University lecturers threaten indefinite industrial action over funding crisis and unpaid salaries
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Academic Staff Union of Universities has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to address longstanding grievances or face an indefinite nationwide strike that could shut down Nigeria’s public university system.
Union Escalates Pressure After Failed Negotiations
Sunday’s National Executive Council meeting at the University of Abuja appears to have been the breaking point. ASUU leadership, clearly frustrated with what they see as years of government indifference, decided enough was enough. National President Chris Piwuna signed the formal notice—though one has to wonder if this latest threat will carry more weight than previous warnings.
This ultimatum comes on the heels of those campus rallies back in August 2025. Academics across federal and state universities carried placards, hoping to catch government attention. But like so many protests before, these demonstrations seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
“What is clear for now is that both the federal and state governments have a strong habit of paying little or no attention to the education sector in general and the welfare of university academics in particular,” ASUU stated. It’s a familiar refrain that may sound repetitive to some, but the frustration behind it feels genuine.
What’s Really Driving This Strike Threat
At the heart of ASUU’s complaints lies that 2009 agreement with the Federal Government—a document that’s now 16 years old and, according to the union, largely ignored. The agreement was supposed to establish clear frameworks for university funding and academic welfare. Instead, it appears to have become another broken promise gathering dust.
Money talks, and right now it’s saying all the wrong things. Lecturers are dealing with salary arrears that range from 25 to 35 percent, imagine having a quarter to a third of your paycheck held up for months or years. Promotion arrears stretching over four years add insult to injury. These aren’t abstract policy issues; they’re real financial hardships affecting thousands of families.
The funding crisis runs deeper than individual paychecks, though. Universities are struggling with outdated equipment, crumbling infrastructure, and overcrowded classrooms. It’s hard to maintain academic standards when the basic tools for education are falling apart.
ASUU also pointed to what they call “victimization” at specific institutions, Lagos State University, Kogi State University (recently renamed Prince Abubakar Audu University), and the Federal University of Technology Owerri. The details of these cases aren’t entirely clear, but they suggest tensions between university administrations and academic staff may be escalating beyond just federal issues.
What Happens If This Goes South
ASUU’s strategy seems calculated, if familiar. First comes a two-week warning strike, a shot across the bow. If that doesn’t work, they’re threatening what they call a “total and indefinite strike.” Anyone who remembers 2022 knows how this story might unfold.
That eight-month strike in 2022 was brutal. Students lost entire academic sessions. Some switched to private universities if they could afford it. Others just waited it out, watching their graduation dates slip further into the future. Parents scrambled to find alternatives or simply accepted the delay.
The ripple effects extend beyond individual students. When hundreds of thousands of young people are suddenly out of school, it creates social and economic pressures that touch entire communities. Local businesses around universities suffer. Families adjust their financial planning. The whole education timeline gets thrown off.
Government’s Dilemma and Public Pressure
ASUU claims the government has the financial muscle to fix these problems, though that assertion might be more hopeful than realistic given Nigeria’s current economic challenges. Still, the union is betting that public pressure can force action where negotiations have failed.
Their appeal to “all well-meaning Nigerian citizens, religious and traditional rulers, parents, students, and all other stakeholders” sounds a bit like throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. But it also reflects genuine desperation. When you’ve tried formal negotiations, protests, and public statements without success, what’s left?
The timing is interesting too. Education funding debates are heating up nationally, and public universities remain the main pathway to higher education for millions of Nigerians who can’t afford private alternatives.
As this 14-day countdown begins, it’s anyone’s guess whether the Federal Government will blink first or if we’re heading for another prolonged standoff. Past experience suggests both sides may be preparing for a long fight, one that students and parents will ultimately pay for.
