The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fresh warning of a potential nationwide strike, citing the Federal Government’s failure to address longstanding issues, including the non-implementation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement.
The union’s grievances, which also include allegations of corruption and neglect of the education sector, have raised concerns about further disruptions to Nigeria’s public universities.
On May 24, 2025, ASUU President Chris Piwuna, during a press conference in Abuja, urged the government to honor its commitments or face industrial action.
“The government must fulfill its promises to revitalize our universities. Education is the backbone of Nigeria’s transformation, and neglecting it is a disservice to the nation,” Piwuna stated, emphasizing the need for a national education summit to address funding, autonomy, and academic welfare.
The union’s demands include the release of N150 billion in revitalization funds, payment of withheld salaries from the 2022 strike, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) over the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
ASUU has also criticized the proliferation of underfunded universities and the government’s failure to implement visitation panel reports.
In March 2025, ASUU suspended a planned strike after the government promised to address these concerns in the 2025 budget, with funds to be released post-passage.
However, ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke expressed skepticism, stating, “We are giving the government the benefit of the doubt, but our patience is not infinite. If the budget commitments are not met by the end of March, we will have no choice but to act.”
The threat has sparked mixed reactions. A student at the University of Lagos, Aisha Ibrahim, voiced frustration: “These strikes keep delaying our graduation. The government needs to prioritize education and stop this cycle.”
Meanwhile, education analyst Dr. Tunde Akanni argued, “ASUU’s demands are valid, but frequent strikes harm students the most. Both sides must find a lasting solution.”
Posts on X reflect growing public concern, with users like
@I_Am_marwa
highlighting lecturers’ grievances over delayed salaries, stating, “Paying us crumbs and delaying it till the 12th or 13th of the next month is pure wickedness.”
Others, like
@yabaleftonline
, noted ASUU’s resolve to push for the 2009 agreement’s implementation.
The Federal Government has yet to respond officially to the latest threat, but previous engagements, such as a June 2024 meeting with Education Minister Tahir Mamman, yielded no concrete resolutions.
With Nigeria’s tertiary education system already reeling from past disruptions—57 months of shutdowns since 1999, including a nine-month strike in 2022—stakeholders urge swift action to avert another crisis.
ASUU’s potential strike underscores deep-seated issues in Nigeria’s education sector, from underfunding to governance challenges.
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