The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that it may reactivate its suspended strike if the Federal Government and state governments fail to address outstanding issues affecting lecturers.
The warning followed an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) on September 5, 2026, at the University of Abuja.
In a statement signed by ASUU President Prof. Christopher Piwuna, the union accused the governments of failing to fully implement the 2025 agreement, pay outstanding withheld salaries, and remit billions of naira deducted from lecturers’ salaries.
ASUU said lecturers were still owed three-and-a-half months out of the seven-and-a-half months withheld during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The union also complained about the non-remittance of pension contributions, cooperative deductions, and ASUU check-off dues.
It said the unresolved issues had placed lecturers’ welfare and the stability of the university system under serious threat.
ASUU further accused federal and state governments of inconsistent implementation of the 2025 agreement. It said several states had started implementation, while others were yet to take concrete steps.
The union warned that universities in states that fail to implement the agreement could face industrial action.
ASUU also criticized Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke over the two-year extension of the tenure of Osun State University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Clement Adebooye.
The union argued that the extension undermined university autonomy and was contrary to existing provisions governing the vice-chancellor’s tenure. The Osun State Government, however, said the extension was backed by a subsequent amendment to the university’s enabling law.
Meanwhile, ASUU branches in some states have already issued strike ultimatums. The Sule Lamido University branch in Jigawa, for instance, threatened industrial action from September 15 over unpaid arrears and implementation of the 2025 agreement.
ASUU said it may activate its suspended nationwide strike “without any further notice” if the outstanding issues are not urgently resolved.
