ASUU Warns Of Fresh Nationwide Strike As One-Month Ultimatum Nears Deadline

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has cautioned that it may return to a nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands once the union’s one-month ultimatum expires.

Speaking in Kano on Tuesday, Nov. 18, the union’s Kano Zonal Coordinator, Abdulkadir Muhammad, told journalists that the government’s slow response to renegotiating critical agreements is stalling progress toward improving Nigeria’s university system.

The warning comes after ASUU suspended its last warning strike in October — a gesture meant to create room for dialogue and demonstrate goodwill. But Muhammad said the union’s optimism is fading as the government continues to delay key decisions affecting lecturers’ welfare and learning conditions across public universities.

Representatives from ABU Zaria, BUK, KASU, ADUSTECH, FUD, NWU, and SLUK were present at the zonal meeting. Their submission followed the National Executive Council (NEC) report reviewed on November 8 and 9 at Taraba State University.

Muhammad noted that some government officials have resorted to misinformation instead of engaging sincerely, making the renegotiation process even more difficult. He added that what the government has offered so far neither improves lecturers’ working conditions nor addresses the brain drain plaguing the university system.

He further urged the Federal Government to halt the creation of new state universities, arguing that many governors establish institutions they cannot fund.

Benin Zone Backs Possible Strike As ASUU Accuses FG Of Neglect

In Benin City, the ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Monday Lewis Igbafen, said the zone is ready to join a full-scale industrial action if directed by the NEC. He criticized the government’s long-standing refusal to address issues that have kept public universities unstable.

Igbafen described it as “wicked and inhumane” that academic staff have remained on the same salary structure for more than 15 years.

ASUU Calabar Zone Demands Urgent Action, Threatens Strike

From Calabar, the union’s Zonal Coordinator, Ikechukwu Igwenyi, reiterated ASUU’s position, saying the Federal Government must address long-standing issues or face another cycle of industrial action.

Among the union’s demands are:

• Completion and implementation of renegotiated agreements with clear timelines
• Fair pay and better work conditions to curb the exodus of academics
• Immediate release of 3.5 months’ withheld salaries and all outstanding deductions
• Payment of arrears of promotion
• Settlement of the pending 25–35% wage award
• Increased budgetary allocation for education
• Sustainable funding for universities
• Full respect for university autonomy

Addressing reporters with nine other union officials, Igwenyi stressed that ASUU has already issued a four-week ultimatum and will not back down if the government fails to act.

“We remain unbowed and unwavering,” the statement read, “confident that this struggle will end in victory.”