ASUU Halts Strike Threat As Government Pays June Salaries

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has stepped back from its planned strike after the Federal Government released the delayed June 2025 salaries to lecturers across the country.

The payment came just in time to beat a deadline that could have triggered a nationwide withdrawal of services.

At the University of Abuja, the local ASUU branch confirmed that salaries began reflecting in members’ accounts shortly before the 11:59 p.m. deadline on Monday, July 7. With that development, the union said it would no longer proceed with the industrial action earlier threatened due to the salary delay.

The Abuja branch chairman, Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, explained that the union had resolved to down tools if salaries were not received by the set time. However, the last-minute payment prevented the activation of that plan.

This decision brings temporary relief to students and academic institutions that were bracing for another potential shutdown, similar to previous lengthy ASUU strikes that disrupted academic calendars nationwide.

ASUU’s national leadership had earlier directed all its branches to prepare for immediate strike action should their salaries not arrive by the set deadline. The move was based on a standing resolution from the union’s National Executive Council (NEC), which adopted a “No Pay, No Work” policy in response to ongoing salary delays.

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, had described the situation as avoidable and blamed the delay on what he called the indifferent attitude of government officials. He said union members had been suffering since the switch from the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), a platform they say hasn’t solved the issue of late payments.

Piwuna stressed that the problem is not with the payment system itself, but with those responsible for disbursing the funds. He maintained that despite holding meetings with the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, no serious action was taken to prevent the recurring salary delays.

He also warned that the union remains watchful, adding that any future delay in salary payments beyond three days into a new month would result in an immediate withdrawal of services by lecturers.

While the current situation appears to have been defused, ASUU continues to press for the remaining ₦10 billion in Earned Academic Allowance owed to lecturers, a balance left from the original ₦50 billion commitment by the Federal Government. The union says unless the full amount is paid, fresh confrontation cannot be ruled out.

For now, the suspension of the strike threat means university activities can continue without interruption—but only if the government keeps to its end of the bargain in subsequent months.