ASUU Gives 20 Universities 14-Day Ultimatum, Threatens Fresh Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its branches in 20 universities to prepare for industrial action over what it described as the failure of the Federal and state governments to fully implement the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.

The union issued a 14-day ultimatum to the affected governments and university authorities to resolve outstanding issues, warning that its branches would commence strike action immediately after the deadline if their demands are not addressed.

The development has raised fresh concerns over a possible disruption of academic activities across the nation's universities, barely months after the Federal Government and ASUU reached the 2025 agreement following years of negotiations.

The decision was taken at ASUU's National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026.

ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, saying the union's NEC would reconvene at an emergency meeting at the end of August or early September to assess developments and determine its next course of action.

The universities affected by the directive are Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Gombe State University; Plateau State University, Bokkos; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Abia State University, Uturu; and University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa.

Others are Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo; Kaduna State University; Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Northwest University, Kano; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Imo State University; Niger Delta University; University of Africa, Toru-Orua; Bayelsa Medical University; and Taraba State University, Jalingo.

According to ASUU, the affected branches have been directed to commence the proposed strike immediately after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum if the outstanding issues remain unresolved.

The union added that its branches in the Sokoto Zone had already issued a two-week ultimatum over similar concerns.

Why ASUU Is Threatening Strike

ASUU attributed the latest development to what it described as the “haphazard implementation” of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement and what it termed the Federal Government's “lackadaisical attitude” towards releasing the subvention required for the full implementation of the agreement.

“NEC discussed the state of the struggle and noted that a significant milestone had been reached signing the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, but frowned at the haphazard implementation and lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government in the release of subvention to fully actualise the implementation of the said 2025 Agreement,” the union said.

ASUU also accused visitors to some state-owned universities of failing to implement provisions of the agreement, warning that the situation was gradually eroding the gains achieved through the pact.

The union's latest position places fresh pressure on the Federal Government and affected state governments to resolve the outstanding issues before the ultimatum expires.

What the 2025 Agreement Provides

The 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement was signed in December 2025 after more than 16 years of negotiations and was expected to address some of the longstanding challenges affecting lecturers' welfare, remuneration, research funding and the underfunding of public universities.

Among its major provisions was a 40 per cent increase in academic staff remuneration, effective from January 1, 2026. The Federal Government announced in February that implementation of the salary increase had commenced.

The agreement also introduced the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to support expenses associated with journal publications, membership of learned societies, conferences, internet access and books.

Under the agreement, professors are entitled to a Professorial Cadre Allowance of N1.74 million annually, equivalent to N145,000 monthly, while readers are to receive N840,000 annually, or N70,000 monthly.

The pact further provided for the review of Earned Academic Allowances, including payments for postgraduate supervision and other academic responsibilities, alongside measures aimed at improving staff welfare, research, infrastructure and institutional development.

However, implementation of the agreement has become a fresh source of tension between ASUU and the government.

The union has in recent months complained that some provisions of the agreement were being implemented selectively, alleging that while some universities had commenced payment of portions of the salary component, others were yet to fully implement several provisions.

ASUU has also expressed concern over delays in constituting the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which it considers essential to ensuring that bureaucratic bottlenecks do not frustrate the implementation of the agreement.

Promotions, Appointments Under Review

The NEC meeting also considered issues relating to academic promotions and appointments across universities.

The union commended the withdrawal of two professorial appointments at the Federal University Lokoja following resistance and investigations by the university's ASUU branch.

At the Federal University Wukari, however, the union expressed concern over the promotion of a former registrar to the professorial cadre.

ASUU consequently directed its branches to resist the promotion of bursars and registrars who do not meet the professorial promotion criteria applicable in their respective institutions.

ASUU Raises Alarm Over Campus Insecurity

The union also raised concerns over insecurity on university campuses, particularly attacks that have resulted in the deaths of some of its members.

It directed affected branches to petition the police and other relevant security agencies over incidents of insecurity and compile comprehensive reports for submission to the national leadership.

With the 14-day ultimatum now in effect, attention is expected to shift to the Federal and affected state governments as they seek to prevent the dispute from escalating into another nationwide disruption of academic activities.

For students, parents and other stakeholders in the university system, the immediate concern is whether the outstanding provisions of the 2025 agreement will be resolved before the expiration of the ultimatum or whether the country will once again witness another round of industrial action in its public universities.