Abuja, Nigeria — Nigerian public universities are facing a new disruption after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared a two-week “total and comprehensive warning strike.”
The decision was announced by ASUU’s National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, at a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday, stating that the action would take effect from midnight on Monday, 13th October 2025.
“It goes without saying that there is nothing sufficient on the ground to stop the implementation of the ASUU-NEC’s resolution to embark on a two-week warning strike,” Piwuna told the press. He directed all ASUU branches across the country to “withdraw their services” immediately, ensuring the strike is total and comprehensive.
The strike action comes despite recent efforts by the Federal Government to resolve the protracted disputes over university funding and staff welfare. Just days ago, on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, indicated that the government was in the “final phase of talks” with the unions regarding the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
Alausa had highlighted progress made by the Tinubu administration, including the release of ₦50 billion ($62.5 million USD, approximate) for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances and the inclusion of another ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for university needs assessment, to be disbursed in three tranches. However, ASUU’s decision to proceed with the strike suggests the union does not believe the government’s actions are sufficient to meet their demands, plunging the tertiary education sector into fresh uncertainty.
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