Nigeria's ASUU threatens university shutdown over unpaid salaries

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria warned that universities could be shut down again after the federal government failed to meet salary payment agreements with lecturers. Union leaders said many staff still owe between two and ten months of pay despite a conditional suspension of a nine‑month strike in December 2020.

At Adekunle Ajasin University in Ondo State, the ASUU branch began an indefinite withdrawal of services on July 10, demanding payment of May and June 2026 salaries. The strike halts lectures, supervision and scheduled examinations, putting the university’s academic calendar in doubt. The union says the action will continue until the outstanding salaries are fully paid, and it accuses the government of reneging on prior agreements.

The dispute highlights broader tensions over salary arrears, the implementation of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), and the potential impact on Nigeria’s tertiary education system.