The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has handed the Federal Government a four-day deadline to commence the implementation of a newly approved salary structure for university lecturers nationwide.
The directive was announced on Thursday by the union’s president, Christopher Piwuna, during a public lecture held at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus, in Bauchi State.
According to him, the agreement on the revised salary package was reached in December 2025, with implementation expected to begin in January 2026.
However, the Federal Government has yet to act on the agreement months after the scheduled rollout.
Piwuna stated that the ultimatum takes immediate effect, stressing that the government must urgently begin payment under the new structure, which followed extended negotiations between both parties.
“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the Federal Government to begin the payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he said.
The ASUU president expressed concern over what he described as the Federal Government’s persistent failure to honour agreements, noting that such actions have repeatedly triggered disputes and industrial actions within the university system.
He also addressed reports of a proposed plan to establish a branch of Coventry University in Nigeria, following a recent visit by Bola Tinubu to London.
Piwuna said the union would resist the move, arguing that it could undermine the value and relevance of Nigerian universities.
Describing the proposal as a form of colonial influence in the country’s education sector, he maintained that ASUU remains committed to strengthening local institutions rather than encouraging foreign expansion.
Piwuna further argued that the development came at a time when the foreign institution is reportedly facing declining admission applications globally.
He advised the Federal Government to instead partner with ASUU to improve the quality and competitiveness of Nigerian universities to meet current and future educational demands.
Earlier in March, specifically on March 11, 2026, ASUU directed members in some branches to withdraw their services over delays in the payment of June 2025 salary arrears, as well as challenges linked to the transition to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
The union had also issued multiple ultimatums in late 2025, including 14-day and one-month notices, pressing the government to conclude the renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement.
Meanwhile, on March 25, 2026, federal civil servants outside ASUU threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action over unpaid wage awards, further underscoring growing labour unrest across Nigeria’s public sector.
