Amidst pleas by the federal government to resolve the lingering disputes, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members nationwide to begin a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike across public universities in Nigeria.

The latest standoff between the university lecturers and the federal government comes despite ongoing negotiations aimed at averting another round of industrial action in the nation’s public varsities.

Speaking Sunday at a press briefing at the University of Abuja, National President of ASUU, Professor Chris Piwuna, said the two-week deadline it earlier gave the federal government elapsed September 28, hence the declaration of the strike.

But the federal government cautioned against the decision, saying it “does not reflect a spirit of cooperation or fairness to the students and the public, especially given the government’s demonstrable commitment and concrete steps already taken.”

The government said it was wrong of ASUU not to have reverted to it after meeting the deadline to present its position to the union as agreed.

It added the ‘no work, no pay’ policy would apply if the university teachers embarked on the industrial action.

Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa, had Wednesday disclosed in Abuja that the government had entered the final phase of talks with ASUU and other unions to resolve lingering disputes over welfare, funding, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.

…ASUU

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the ASUU president said: “Compatriots of the press, it goes without saying that there is nothing sufficient on ground to stop the implementation of the ASUU-NEC’s resolution to embark on a two-week warning strike at the expiry of the 14-day notice given on the 28th September 2025.

“Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight on Monday, the 13th October, 2025. The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last NEC meeting.”

Piwuna, who said the warning strike shall be total and comprehensive, further added that there is nothing sufficient to stop implementation of the ASUU-NEC’s resolution to embark on the two-week warning strike.

This is ASUU’s first nationwide strike since 2022, and the first since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.

In 2022, ASUU downed tools for eight months –from February to October 2022, until an industrial court ordered it to suspend the strike, after the then Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, filed a lawsuit against the union.

…FG cautions

But in his reaction, the minister of education, Dr Alausa, cautioned the university teachers against disrupting the academic calendar, saying virtually all the concerns raised by ASUU had been addressed.

In a statement Sunday by Director Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, Alausa said the federal government had demonstrated demonstrable sincerity, patience, and goodwill in its dialogue with the union.

The statement read: “The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, and the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmed, have jointly reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the Federal Government to constructive engagement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) towards the sustainable resolution of all outstanding issues affecting the university system.

“The Ministers stated that the Federal Government has demonstrated demonstrable sincerity, patience, and goodwill in its dialogue with the Union, noting that virtually all the concerns raised by ASUU have been addressed. These include the introduction of a big percentage of teaching allowance and significant improvements in the conditions of service of academic staff. The few remaining matters are those that rightfully fall within the jurisdiction of the governing councils of the respective universities, which have been recently reconstituted to handle such internal issues.

“They noted that, though the government is making all efforts to resolve all the issues and ensure that students remain in school, ASUU is not operating with the same zeal. The government had met the deadline for presenting its position to the union as agreed, yet instead of reverting to the Ministry in continuation of dialogue, ASUU has chosen to proceed with strike action. This action, the Ministers observed, does not reflect a spirit of cooperation or fairness to the students and the public, especially given the government’s demonstrable commitment and concrete steps already taken.

“The Ministers further stressed that the government has continued to prioritize the welfare of university staff and the stability of the academic calendar under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. According to them, dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable path to resolving disagreements and government remains open to engagement at any level to prevent unnecessary disruption in the education sector.

“They, however, emphasized that the “no work, no pay” policy remains an extant labour law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the government will be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted in the nation’s universities. While government continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility, it will not abdicate its responsibility to uphold fairness and accountability in the use of public resources.

“The statement reassured Nigerian students, parents, and the general public that the Federal Government is firmly committed to maintaining industrial harmony in the tertiary education system. The Ministers appealed to all academic unions to embrace partnership and dialogue rather than confrontation, in the collective interest of the nation’s higher education system.

“They reiterated that the government’s education reform agenda is designed to enhance teaching and research conditions, promote institutional autonomy through strengthened university governance, and ensure that the academic community thrives in an environment of mutual respect, productivity, and innovation.

“The Honourable Ministers reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to work with all stakeholders to safeguard the academic calendar and prevent further disruption in the learning process. They urged ASUU to reconsider its position and return to dialogue in the best interest of students and the future of Nigeria’s education system.” (With additional reports from Premium Times)