ASUU Warns of Fresh Strikes as 2025 Agreement Implementation Stalls
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that Nigeria’s public university system faces a “new wave of industrial unrest” due to the government’s failure to fully implement the December 2025 agreement. Following a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Modibbo Adama University, Yola, on May 9 and 10, 2026, the union expressed deep dissatisfaction with the “distorted and uncoordinated” execution of the deal, which was officially presented only four months ago in January.
In a statement released on Monday, May 11, 2026, ASUU President Chris Piwuna noted that the momentum from the agreement is “fast waning.” The union specifically blamed the Federal Government’s failure to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which has led to selective and inconsistent payments of academic allowances across various institutions. This warning directly challenges recent claims by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, who declared in March that the era of university strikes was “permanently over.”
ASUU’s grievances extend beyond simple salary issues to include several unresolved welfare concerns:
- Funding Discrepancies: The union rejected the government’s proposed National Research Fund, noting it falls short of the “1% of GDP” funding for research stipulated in the 2025 agreement.
- Unpaid Arrears: Significant issues remain regarding promotion arrears, unremitted deductions, and salaries withheld from the 2022 strike action.
- Pension Delays: Retired lecturers, particularly in state-owned universities, continue to face severe delays in receiving their benefits.
