By Fatima Mukhtar
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a two-week warning strike after rejecting the latest proposal from the Federal Government over unresolved issues affecting Nigerian universities.
The strike, which officially begins today, October 13, 2025, follows a heated meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) held at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, where members unanimously agreed that the government had failed to meet their key demands.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, announced the decision in a statement on Sunday, accusing the government of insincerity and neglect of previous agreements.
“The Federal Government has failed to honour its promises on the 2009 renegotiated agreement, withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and the revitalisation of public universities. This warning strike is to remind them that we are serious about our demands,” Osodeke said.
The union listed its grievances to include:
Full implementation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement.
Payment of withheld salaries and promotion arrears.
Release of withheld third-party deductions such as union dues and cooperative funds.
Improved funding for universities and better working conditions for academic staff.
End to alleged victimisation of lecturers across campuses.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has maintained its stance that the “no work, no pay” policy remains in effect, insisting that many of ASUU’s demands are already being addressed.
A senior government official, speaking to journalists in Abuja, urged the union to reconsider the strike, describing it as “unnecessary and harmful to students’ education.”
In contrast, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has distanced itself from the strike, saying its members will continue teaching.
According to Vanguard, The development has thrown the academic community into uncertainty, with students and parents expressing frustration over another round of disruptions to the school calendar.
ASUU warned that if the government fails to take meaningful action during the two-week period, the union may proceed with an indefinite nationwide strike.
About The Author
