ASUU warns of strike action over unimplemented agreement

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that public universities across Nigeria may face another major crisis following the federal government’s failure to implement the terms of a mutual agreement signed in late 2025.

The union expressed frustration over what it described as total government apathy toward fulfilling the components of the pact, which was designed to address funding deficits and improve the welfare of university workers.

The National President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, raised the alarm during a press conference on Monday.

He noted that despite several months of dialogue and official pledges from government representatives, the key issues that prompted previous industrial actions remain unresolved.

According to the union leader, the unimplemented agreement covered critical areas such as the release of revitalisation funds for public universities, the payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, and the formal implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.

Osodeke expressed concern that the government’s continued delay is creating immense tension within university campuses, which could disrupt the academic calendar if left unaddressed.

He stated that the union has demonstrated significant patience to allow the administration time to act, but the lack of progress has left members highly dissatisfied.

While urging well-meaning Nigerians, traditional rulers, and stakeholders to intervene, the ASUU president emphasized that the union should not be held responsible if public universities are forced to shut down again due to the government’s failure to honor its commitments.