Nigeria: Academic Union Threatens Nationwide Strike

What the report says

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that it may launch a nationwide strike in Nigeria if the federal government does not urgently address unresolved issues affecting public universities. The warning followed an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council, according to Premium Times, and was delivered by ASUU president Christopher Piwuna.

The union said the main concern is the government’s failure to fully carry out a December 2025 agreement reached after years of negotiations over university funding and working conditions. ASUU also cited unpaid salary arrears, delayed or missing remittances from staff pay, and what it described as breaches of university autonomy and laws. It said some lecturers remain uncertain about when they will receive salaries or what portion will be paid.

ASUU renewed its demand for the remaining three-and-a-half months of salaries withheld from lecturers during the 2022 dispute, after the current government had already paid four of the seven-and-a-half months originally withheld. The union also said deductions for pensions, cooperative societies and union dues have not been properly remitted for months. It warned that it could reactivate a suspended strike without further notice if there is no satisfactory response.

The union additionally pointed to state universities, saying implementation of the agreement has started in some states but not others. It praised Abia State for moving ahead and said several other states had begun or pledged to begin implementation, while warning that lagging states could face industrial action at their institutions.