The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a two-week nationwide warning strike, beginning Monday, October 13, 2025, following a prolonged standoff with the federal government.
The union said the industrial action was necessary to draw attention to the government’s continued failure to address long-standing issues affecting Nigeria’s public universities.
The decision was reached after an emergency meeting of ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) held in Abuja, where university lecturers across the country unanimously resolved to withdraw their services for two weeks as a signal to the government to meet their demands.
According to reports, ASUU accused the federal government of reneging on key agreements reached over the years, particularly the full implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, and adequate funding for university revitalization.
Speaking after the meeting, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, lamented that despite several meetings and promises, the government has continued to display insincerity and neglect toward the education sector.
“We have exercised patience enough. The union has been engaging constructively, but the government keeps paying lip service to our demands.
“This warning strike is to remind them that Nigerian universities cannot continue to operate under deplorable conditions,” he stated.
ASUU said the two-week warning strike would serve as a prelude to a full-scale industrial action if the Federal Government fails to respond within the period.
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Students across campuses have reacted with mixed feelings.
While some expressed disappointment over the looming disruption of academic activities, others said the strike was necessary to draw attention to the deteriorating state of public universities.
Meanwhile, the federal government has appealed to ASUU to reconsider its decision, pledging renewed commitment to resolving all outstanding issues through dialogue.
Stakeholders, however, have expressed fears that another prolonged shutdown could further destabilize Nigeria’s already fragile academic calendar, which is yet to recover from previous strike actions.
