Updated: ASUU suspends two-week warning strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared the suspension of its two-week warning strike, providing the Federal Government with a one-month period to finalize the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and to resolve other outstanding issues impacting the nation’s university system.
The union's President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made this announcement on Wednesday during a press conference in Abuja, where he elaborated that the suspension was a result of productive discussions with the Federal Government and significant interventions from the National Assembly.
Piwuna noted that ASUU had initiated the warning strike on October 13, 2025, due to what he termed the government’s neglect in responding to numerous requests to tackle the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and other welfare-related matters concerning university lecturers.
He stated, “When we convened here approximately 10 days ago to reluctantly announce a warning strike, it was a decision that left us with no alternative. The government had disregarded our persistent appeals to address issues vital to the survival of Nigeria’s public universities.”
The ASUU president disclosed that after the strike commenced, the Federal Government re-engaged the union through a delegation led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, which met with ASUU representatives on October 16 and 18 to discuss the government’s feedback on the draft renegotiated agreement.
He indicated that while the meetings did not completely resolve all issues, the union acknowledged that considerable progress had been achieved compared to the situation prior to the strike.
He remarked, “We have not accomplished all our goals, but we are certainly in a better position than we were before the strike commenced. This indicates that had the government responded sooner, the strike could have been avoided.”
Piwuna also praised the efforts of the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, as well as Labour, along with the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, whose mediation, he noted, had restored hope for a sustainable resolution.
He indicated that the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU, following an emergency meeting conducted from October 21 to 22, 2025, assessed the circumstances and determined that the warning strike had fulfilled some of its objectives, especially in urging the government to resume negotiations.
“While noting that more work remains to be done, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to allow for a conducive atmosphere for further engagement,” Piwuna announced.
He explained that the decision was taken in deference to students, parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and other well-meaning Nigerians who had shown solidarity and mediated in the dispute.
ASUU, however, warned that should the government fail to resolve the outstanding issues within the one-month window, the union would be left with no option but to resume strike action without further notice.
“The struggle continues,” Piwuna declared, calling on patriotic Nigerians to prevail on the government to honour its commitments to guarantee industrial harmony and ensure stability in the academic calendar.
