The Academic Staff Union of Universities ((ASUU), has declared that its next line of action in pressing for improved funding, welfare and the implementation of the 2009 Agreement it signed with the Federal Government would be predicated on the position of the Federal Government.
ASUU which commenced a two-week warning strike that entered its sixth day on Sunday, following the expiration of the ultimatum it issued the Federal Government, said it is awaiting to hear from the Federal Ministry of Education by Monday, October 20, 2025.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Prof Chris Piwuna, National President of ASUU, ASUU National President, Prof Chris Piwuna, said the union is expecting feedback from the Federal Ministry of Education by Monday, adding that until then, the leadership of the Union has nothing to say.
However, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, has assured that the National Assembly is determined and committed to broker peace between ASUU and the Federal Government in order to prevent the strike from escalating.
The renewed misunderstanding between ASUU and the government followed inability by both sides to reach an amicable resolution in negotiations to avert another round of industrial unrest in public universities.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, had last week in Abuja, said that the government had entered the final phase of talks with ASUU and other unions with a view to resolving the lingering disputes over funding, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
Alausa said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration had already made significant progress with the release of N50bn for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances, while another N150bn had been captured in the 2025 budget for NEEDS Assessment, to be disbursed in three tranches.
While declaring the commencement of the strike, Prof Piwuna noted that there was nothing sufficient on the ground to stop the implementation of the ASUU-NEC’s resolution to embark on a two-week warning strike at the expiration of the 14-day notice given the government on September 28, 2025.
Piwuna said; “Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight on Monday, the 13th October, 2025. The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last INEC meeting”.
ASUU is demanding the implementation of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, release of the withheld three and a half months’ salaries, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of public universities and cessation of the victimisation of lecturers in Lagos State University, Kogi State University, now Prince Abubakar Audu University and Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
The union is also demanding for the payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears, payment of four years promotion arrears and the release of withheld third-party deductions (cooperative contributions, union check-off dues).
