The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a two-week warning strike beginning Monday, October 13, 2025, following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum earlier issued to the Federal Government.
Announcing the decision at a press briefing in Abuja, ASUU National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, said the strike would be total and comprehensive, directing all branches of the union to withdraw their services from midnight, Sunday, October 12.
“Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from 12:01 a.m. on Monday, October 13, 2025. The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last NEC meeting,” Piwuna stated.
He explained that the decision became inevitable following the government’s failure to address long-standing issues affecting university lecturers despite repeated assurances.
“The Federal Government raised our members’ hopes before the August 2025 NEC meeting at Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, by asking for three weeks to resolve pending issues. NEC reluctantly agreed, but that promise was never fulfilled. Since then, government agents have continued to plead for more time without offering anything concrete,” he lamented.
ASUU’s key demands include the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, release of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, sustainable funding and revitalization of public universities, and an end to the victimization of lecturers at LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.
Other outstanding issues include payment of 25–35% salary arrears, promotion arrears spanning over four years, and release of withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union check-off dues.
Professor Piwuna emphasized that the union’s patience had been stretched thin and warned that failure to resolve these issues promptly could lead to a full-blown industrial action after the two-week warning strike.
