Barring any last-minute change in plan, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will commence a two-week warning strike on Monday.
The planned industrial action follows the expiration of the two-week ultimatum issued to the Federal Government to meet the union’s long-standing demands.
Despite the ultimatum lapsing on Sunday night, the Federal Government has yet to make any public statement on the impending strike.
ASUU had earlier directed its branches nationwide to prepare for the warning strike, signaling a renewed standoff between the university lecturers and the government despite ongoing negotiations to avert industrial action in tertiary institutions.
Last Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed in Abuja that the government was in the final phase of talks with ASUU and other unions to resolve disputes over welfare, funding, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
According to the minister, the Tinubu administration had made significant progress, including the release of ₦50 billion for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances and the inclusion of ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, to be disbursed in three tranches.
“They deserve to be paid well, and our academic and non-academic staff deserve improved welfare,” Alausa said. “But we can’t give everything at once. What matters is our sincerity and commitment to substantial improvement in their conditions.”
He added that promotion arrears and other outstanding allowances, including teaching and wage awards, had been addressed, while remaining obligations would be cleared by 2026.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to sustainable peace in the education sector, Alausa appealed to the unions to exercise patience and embrace dialogue rather than resorting to strikes.
“We have resolved many of these issues and are now at the final stage — the condition of service,” he said. “This government is sincere and has demonstrated that over the last two years. Please bear with us.”
Alausa also revealed that, for the first time, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and officials of the Ministry of Justice were directly involved in the negotiations to ensure legal soundness and enforceability of the agreements reached.
However, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, faulted the Ministry of Education for what he described as its persistent delay in addressing critical issues affecting university lecturers.
“The ultimatum expires on Sunday, and after that, there will be a warning strike unless something substantial comes from the government,” Piwuna stated. “In the next 48 hours, we expect to receive something meaningful. Then we can go back to our members and decide whether to hold on or proceed.”
Meanwhile, sources across several federal universities — including the University of Jos, Ahmadu Bello University, and the University of Abuja — confirmed that mobilization for the strike had already commenced.
At the University of Jos, ASUU leaders were said to have met with other union executives to consolidate support for the impending action.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, declined to comment on the matter.
