ASUU threatens nationwide strike over unpaid salaries and agreement breach

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to reactivate a nationwide strike across federal and state universities if the Nigerian government fails to address critical welfare issues. Following an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council, ASUU President Prof. Christopher Piwuna warned that the union could withdraw members from classrooms without further notice.

Key grievances include the incomplete implementation of the December 2025 agreement, the non-payment of three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries from the previous administration, and the failure to remit billions of naira in third-party deductions such as pensions and union dues. The union noted that the economic value of these arrears has significantly eroded due to currency devaluation.

While some states like Abia, Bauchi, and Ekiti have begun implementing the agreement, others have yet to act. In Osun State, the government is defending a tenure extension for the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, a move challenged by ASUU. Meanwhile, in Kaduna, tertiary workers are demanding the completion of promised salary structure adjustments. The potential strike threatens to disrupt the academic calendar and impact millions of students nationwide.