The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced plans to commence a two-week ASUU warning strike starting Monday, following the expiration of the union’s ultimatum to the Federal Government.
The decision comes after the two-week notice given to the government to meet its long-standing demands expired on Sunday night without a positive response. As of late Sunday, the Federal Government had not issued any official statement addressing the looming industrial action.
Government’s Last-Minute Efforts
In an effort to avert the ASUU warning strike, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa said on Wednesday that the government had entered the final phase of negotiations with ASUU and other tertiary institution unions. According to him, the Bola Tinubu administration is committed to resolving the disputes surrounding welfare, funding, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
Alausa noted that the government had already released ₦50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and captured another ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for needs assessment projects, to be released in three stages.
“Our lecturers deserve good pay and better working conditions. While we cannot solve everything at once, we are sincere and committed to improving their welfare,” Alausa said.
Union’s Response
Despite these assurances, ASUU President Prof. Chris Piwuna criticized the Ministry of Education for delaying action on critical issues affecting university lecturers.
“The ultimatum ends on Sunday, and if the government fails to act, the ASUU warning strike will begin. We expect something tangible from the government within 48 hours,” Piwuna stated.
He added that the final decision would depend on the feedback from union members after reviewing any new government proposal.
Background
The ongoing disagreement between ASUU and the Federal Government centers on unpaid allowances, improved funding for universities, and the full implementation of past agreements. The latest development marks another chapter in the long-running standoff between the two parties, which has disrupted academic activities several times in recent years.
As the clock ticks toward Monday, uncertainty looms across Nigerian universities, with students and lecturers waiting to see if the government can take decisive action to halt the planned ASUU warning strike.
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