ASUU Set To Begin Two Week Warning Strike Monday

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is preparing to begin a two-week warning strike on Monday after the expiration of its two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government.

The union had given the government until Sunday night to meet its outstanding demands, but there has been no official response from Abuja.

The planned strike follows ongoing disagreements between university lecturers and the Federal Government over unpaid allowances, poor funding, and unfulfilled agreements dating back to the 2009 ASUU-FGN pact. The union had earlier directed its branches nationwide to mobilize for the action if no progress was made.

Despite the rising tension, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said in Abuja that the government had entered the final stage of talks with ASUU and other unions to resolve all lingering issues. According to him, the Tinubu administration had already released ₦50 billion for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances and earmarked another ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, which will be disbursed in three phases.

Alausa explained that promotion arrears and other allowances, including teaching and wage awards, were being addressed and assured that remaining payments would be cleared before 2026. He maintained that while lecturers deserve better pay, the government is taking a gradual approach to avoid financial strain on the system.

He urged the union to remain patient and allow dialogue to continue instead of embarking on another industrial action that could disrupt the academic calendar. However, ASUU leaders say the government’s promises are not new and that the strike is aimed at compelling concrete action rather than more assurances.

The coming days will determine whether the government can reach a compromise with ASUU before classrooms across Nigeria’s public universities go silent once again.