By Seyifunmi Azeez
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government a four-day ultimatum to implement the newly approved salary structure for university lecturers nationwide, warning that failure to comply would trigger strong union action.
ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, issued the directive on Thursday during a public lecture at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus, in Bauchi State.
“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the Federal Government to begin the payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he said.
Piwuna said the demand was part of broader efforts to improve lecturers’ welfare and tackle persistent concerns over poor remuneration, which he said has contributed to brain drain and declining standards in Nigeria’s university system.
He also criticised the Federal Government for inconsistent implementation of previous agreements with ASUU, a development he said had led to repeated disputes and nationwide strike actions over the years.
Experts have warned that unresolved salary disputes could further weaken the country’s higher education sector, affecting research, teaching quality, and student outcomes.
ASUU’s ultimatum comes amid growing calls for the government to honour agreements with university staff to stabilise the academic calendar and prevent prolonged disruptions to academic activities.