The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to reactivate its suspended nationwide strike if the Federal Government and state governments fail to urgently resolve outstanding issues affecting university lecturers.
The union warned that it could resume the industrial action without further notice, citing the incomplete implementation of the December 2025 agreement, payment of outstanding withheld salaries and the non-remittance of billions of naira deducted from lecturers’ earnings.
ASUU disclosed its position following an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) held at the University of Abuja.
The union’s President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, said the December 2025 agreement, reached after years of negotiations between ASUU and the Federal Government, had not been fully implemented by the Federal Government and several state governments.
ASUU Warns of Another Strike
According to the union, the continued delay in addressing the outstanding issues is creating growing tension across Nigeria’s public university system.
ASUU said it would not accept responsibility if the unresolved matters eventually lead to another nationwide industrial action.
The union stated:
“Unless immediate and concrete steps are taken to FULLY and COMPREHENSIVELY address issues bordering the welfare and well-being of Nigerian academics, ASUU-NEC will not accept any blame for calling out its members on a nationwide strike action within the shortest time possible.”
The warning comes amid a series of disputes between ASUU branches and state governments over the implementation of the 2025 agreement and other outstanding entitlements. Several university branches have already taken or threatened industrial action over related issues.
3.5 Months’ Salaries Still Outstanding
One of the major issues raised by ASUU is the payment of 3.5 months’ outstanding withheld salaries.
The union acknowledged that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had paid four of the 7.5 months’ salaries withheld from lecturers during the previous administration.
However, ASUU said the remaining 3.5 months must also be paid.
The union said:
“We have consistently acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for paying four (4) out of the withheld salaries. However, leaving out the unpaid balance does not give his government the full credit of a labour-friendly administration.”
Billions in Salary Deductions Yet to Be Remitted
ASUU also expressed concern over deductions made from lecturers’ salaries that it said had not been remitted to the appropriate institutions.
The deductions reportedly include pension contributions, cooperative deductions and check-off dues.
According to the union, the unremitted deductions have accumulated into billions of naira and have remained outstanding for several months.
ASUU said the combination of unpaid salaries, unremitted deductions and the incomplete implementation of the 2025 agreement is worsening dissatisfaction among academic staff.
Some States Begin Implementation
The union commended the governments of Abia, Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Kebbi, Katsina and Borno for beginning the implementation of the agreement.
ASUU also said Kano, Edo, Plateau, Taraba, Gombe and Bayelsa had indicated that they would commence implementation between September and October.
The union, however, called on other state governments to urgently take steps to address the outstanding issues in their universities.
University System Faces Renewed Tension
ASUU described the incomplete or inconsistent implementation of the December 2025 agreement as a potential trigger for another major industrial dispute in Nigeria’s public universities.
The latest warning comes against the backdrop of ongoing disputes in several institutions.
For instance, ASUU branches in Lagos State-owned universities declared an indefinite strike on September 15, 2026, over issues including implementation of the 2025 agreement. Meanwhile, the ASUU branch at Plateau State University suspended its strike after reaching an agreement with the Plateau State Government.
At Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, ASUU also recently suspended its branch strike after members received their full August salaries.
ASUU Gives Fresh Warning
ASUU urged the Federal Government and state governments to resolve all outstanding matters without further delay.
The union warned that it could reactivate its suspended nationwide strike if meaningful action is not taken.
“ASUU-NEC resolved to notify all concerned that the Union may activate its suspended strike action without any further notice if the critical issues raised in this release are not speedily addressed.”
If the threat materialises, another nationwide strike could disrupt academic activities across Nigeria’s public universities, adding to the series of industrial disputes already affecting some institutions.
For now, attention is on the Federal Government and the affected state governments to determine whether the outstanding issues can be resolved before ASUU takes further action.
