ASUU rejects FG’s proposal, begins two-week strike today
The Academic Staff Union of Universities will initiate a two-week warning strike on Monday (today) following the expiration of the ultimatum given to the Federal Government on Sunday.
This announcement was made by the National President of the union, Prof. Chris Piwuna, during a press briefing held at the University of Abuja on Sunday.
The renewed conflict between ASUU and the government arises amidst ongoing discussions aimed at preventing another wave of industrial unrest in public universities.
Last Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, revealed in Abuja that the government had entered the final stage of negotiations with ASUU and other unions to address persistent issues regarding welfare, funding, and the execution of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
Alausa emphasized that the Tinubu administration had already achieved notable progress with the allocation of N50bn for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances, while an additional N150bn has been included in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, which will be distributed in three installments.
However, in announcing the strike, Piwuna remarked, “Compatriots of the press, it is evident that there is nothing adequate in place to prevent the execution of the ASUU-NEC’s decision to commence a two-week warning strike following the conclusion of the 14-day notice issued on the 28th of September 2025.
“Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight on Monday, the 13th October, 2025. The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last NEC meeting.’’
Our correspondent has learned that last Friday, the Federal Government extended an invitation to the union in an effort to meet the deadline established by the ASUU leadership.
During the meeting, the government put forth a proposal to ASUU, which was turned down by its leadership as the new offer failed to satisfy the demands put forth by the union.
Currently, ASUU is insisting on the finalization of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, the release of three and a half months’ salaries that have been withheld, sustainable funding for public universities, the revitalization of public universities, and the cessation of the victimization of lecturers at Lagos State University, Kogi State University (now known as Prince Abubakar Audu University), and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
Additional demands include the payment of outstanding salary arrears ranging from 25% to 35%, the settlement of promotion arrears that have accumulated over four years, and the release of withheld third-party deductions, such as cooperative contributions and union check-off dues.
Although the meeting between the two parties concluded without an agreement, a well-placed source within the ministry, who was aware of the discussions between the ministry and ASUU leadership, indicated that the education minister attempted to contact the union's leadership, but his calls were not answered.
"The minister made efforts to reach out to the leadership of the union, but they refused to answer the calls. A proposal was made, yet they proceeded with the strike."
ASUU’s president, Piwuna, previously confirmed that the government’s proposal was rejected. He mentioned that the union is in the process of preparing its own proposal to present to the government.
“The presentation to ASUU was a total departure from the letter and spirit of the review of the draft agreement submitted by the Yayale Ahmed committee to the ministry.”
“ In consonance with our union’s principles, ASUU will soon submit its position – pointing out areas of deliberate distortion, inconsistency and flagrant disregard for extant laws, policies and practices – to the Federal Government.
“Suffice to state, however, that the hurriedly packaged documents were provocative and incapable of dousing industrial tensions which had reached an irreversible pitch across our campuses.
“The Federal Government raised our members’ hopes in resolving the lingering issues before we held the August 2025 NEC meeting at the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, by asking for three weeks of grace to sort out things.
‘’It was a hard sell, but the leadership managed to convince NEC to exercise a little more patience. The pre-UDUS NEC hope was dashed without a blink,” Piwuna noted.
ASUU has a history of strikes driven by various issues, including unpaid salaries and promotion arrears affecting lecturers’ financial stability and morale, poor funding leading to infrastructure decay, inadequate facilities, and limited research capabilities in public universities, lack of genuine government commitment and failure to implement previous agreements eroding trust between ASUU and the government and dissatisfaction with working conditions, among others.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Sunday night threatened to invoke the no-work-no-pay policy following ASUU’s strike declaration.
In a joint statement, the Minister of Education, Alausa and the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, called on the ASUU to reconsider its decision to embark on an industrial strike, emphasising that constructive dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable path toward resolving all outstanding issues in the tertiary education sector.
In a statement issued by Folasade Boriowo, the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education, she disclosed that the Federal Government has made a comprehensive offer to the union and is still awaiting ASUU’s official response.
The ministry emphasised that the offer addresses the union’s primary concerns, including working conditions, institutional governance, and staff welfare.
It accused ASUU of not being cooperative despite efforts by the government to avert the strike declared by the union.
“The ministers further stressed that the government has continued to prioritise the welfare of university staff and the stability of the academic calendar under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
‘’According to them, dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable path to resolving disagreements, and government remains open to engagement at any level to prevent unnecessary disruption in the education sector.
“They, however, emphasised that the “no work, no pay” policy remains an extant labour law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the government will be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted in the nation’s universities.
‘’While government continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility, it will not abdicate its responsibility to uphold fairness and accountability in the use of public resources.’’
The statement reassured Nigerian students, parents, and the general public that the Federal Government is firmly committed to maintaining industrial harmony in the tertiary education system.
“The ministers appealed to all academic unions to embrace partnership and dialogue rather than confrontation, in the collective interest of the nation’s higher education system.
“They reiterated that the government’s education reform agenda is designed to enhance teaching and research conditions, promote institutional autonomy through strengthened university governance, and ensure that the academic community thrives in an environment of mutual respect, productivity, and innovation.”
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students has urged the Federal Government to demonstrate sincerity and urgency in resolving the fresh industrial action declared by ASUU.
The Assistant General Secretary of NANS, Adejuwon Emmanuel, made an appeal during an interview held in Abuja on Sunday.
In response to the situation, Adejuwon stated that NANS had been vigilantly observing the circumstances and expressed significant concern regarding the effects on students.
“We have been monitoring developments surrounding the industrial action declared by ASUU over lingering issues with the Federal Government.
“We are aware that the University of Jos chapter of ASUU recently met with the management of the institution and student leaders to explain their grievances, which include unresolved matters relating to welfare, funding, and government obligations,” he said.
Adejuwon disclosed that the NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, had initiated consultations to mediate between ASUU and the Federal Government.
“The NANS President has since commenced high-level consultations aimed at mediating between ASUU and the government to avert the strike.
“We commend both parties for previous dialogue efforts and urge them to once again embrace negotiation in the interest of the nation’s educational system. Nigerian students have endured too many disruptions, and another strike will only worsen their hardship,” he added.
While acknowledging ASUU’s legitimate concerns, NANS appealed to the union to explore other forms of engagement that would not further destabilise the academic calendar.
“We urge the Federal Government to show sincerity and urgency in addressing the issues at stake. The future of Nigerian students must not be sacrificed on the altar of bureaucracy and broken promises,” Adejuwon said, adding that the association would not “sit idly by if students’ education is
