The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a total and comprehensive two-week warning strike, effectively grounding academic activities in all public universities across Nigeria.
The National President of ASUU, Professor Chris Piwuna, made the announcement during a press conference held on Sunday at the University of Abuja. He explained that the decision followed the Federal Government’s continued failure to address lingering issues affecting university education and the welfare of lecturers.
Professor Piwuna lamented that despite several meetings, appeals, and interventions, there has been “no meaningful progress” in negotiations aimed at resolving the long-standing disputes between the union and the government. He said the union had exhausted all avenues for dialogue, but the government’s inaction left them with no option but to embark on industrial action.
According to him, the two-week warning strike is intended to draw urgent attention to the union’s demands, which include the full implementation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government Agreement, improved funding for universities, better working conditions, and the payment of withheld salaries and earned academic allowances.
He emphasized that the strike would be total and comprehensive, meaning that all academic activities — including teaching, examinations, and statutory meetings — would be suspended during the period.
Professor Piwuna called on the government to take immediate and decisive steps to avert a prolonged shutdown of the university system, noting that the union remains open to genuine dialogue.
The ASUU President also appealed to parents, students, and the general public to understand the reasons behind the union’s decision, stressing that the strike was not an act of defiance but a necessary measure to rescue Nigeria’s public universities from collapse.
The warning strike, which takes effect immediately, is expected to disrupt academic calendars and may lead to further action if the government fails to meet the union’s demands within the stipulated two weeks.
