The Academic Staff Union of Universities has announced a two-week warning strike affecting public universities nationwide.
ASUU’s National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, during a news conference on Sunday in Abuja, stated that the strike would be total and comprehensive, with all academic staff withdrawing their services starting midnight on Monday, October 13, 2025.
The strike is in response to the government’s failure to meet ASUU’s demands, despite repeated appeals and negotiations.
Professor Piwuna stated that there had been no meaningful progress to prevent the union from moving forward with its planned industrial action.
Piwuna also explained that the 14-day notice, issued on September 28, 2025, had lapsed without any substantial response from the relevant authorities.
He further stated that all ASUU branches across the country have been directed to commence a full withdrawal of their services beginning at midnight on Monday, October 13, 2025.
According to Professor Piwuna, the strike would be both total and comprehensive, in line with the resolution reached at the union’s most recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
The union had issued a 14-day ultimatum on September 28, 2025, which lapsed without a satisfactory response from the government.
The Federal Government had appealed to ASUU to shelve the strike, assuring that it is committed to addressing the union’s demands.
However, ASUU responded that the appeal came too late, and the union had already decided to proceed with the strike.
The strike is expected to disrupt academic activities in public universities across the country, potentially affecting the academic calendar and students’ plans.
The government has reconstituted and inaugurated the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee to fast-track talks with both academic and non-academic unions.
The union’s demands include improved funding for universities, better working conditions, and the implementation of the 2009 agreement.
ASUU blamed the government for its slow response to their demands, lamenting that the government waited until just two working days before the strike to make an appeal.
The outcome of the strike remained uncertain, with both parties dug in on their positions. However, stakeholders are urging both sides to engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve the impasse and avoid further disruptions to the academic calendar .
