"ASUU to FG: Act Now or Face Nationwide Varsity Shutdown"

ASUU Warns of Looming Nationwide Strike Over Unmet Demands

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, signalling a possible nationwide strike if its long-standing demands remain unresolved.

In a statement on Saturday, August 9, 2025, ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, lamented that Nigerian lecturers have been “pushed to the wall,” working under poor conditions while being unfairly blamed for producing unemployable graduates. According to him, lecturers are teaching on empty stomachs, with inadequate research materials, outdated laboratories, and dilapidated classrooms, yet they remain committed to shaping the nation’s future.

ASUU accused the government of deliberately ignoring the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which was designed to address funding, welfare, and infrastructural development in universities. Although a renegotiated draft agreement was submitted to the Federal Government in December 2024, the union says no concrete action has been taken eight months later.

Key issues include the non-payment of outstanding Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), lack of progress on the revitalisation fund for public universities, and the need to finalise the renegotiated agreement. The union insists that mere discussions and memoranda cannot replace a binding Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

“The government’s excuses have run out,” Prof. Piwuna declared, stressing that ASUU is tired of endless delays and broken promises. He warned that without urgent intervention, industrial action would be unavoidable, disrupting the academic calendar yet again.

ASUU’s latest warning has sparked mixed reactions among students and parents. While some fear another prolonged disruption to higher education, others support the union’s stance, arguing that improved university conditions will ultimately benefit all stakeholders.

Observers note that this is not the first time ASUU has threatened strike action over unmet agreements. The coming weeks will be critical, as both parties either move toward resolution or plunge Nigeria’s university system into another cycle of academic crisis.