ASUU issues fresh 14-day strike notice to FG over unmet demands

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fresh 14-day ultimatum to the federal government, reigniting tensions over unresolved demands.

The union’s latest move follows the failure of previous negotiations, prompting fears of another nationwide strike that could further disrupt Nigeria’s beleaguered university system.

ASUU’s core demands include the signing of its renegotiated 2009 agreement, the release of an emergency revitalisation fund for public universities, payment of earned academic allowances, and the resolution of withheld salaries.

The union is also pushing for the remediation of promotion arrears, illegal recruitment, and the proliferation of public universities, while seeking financial autonomy for universities through the removal of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and IPPIS system.

Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU’s president, confirmed that the new 14-day pre-strike notice began on September 23, warning that the union would not be held responsible if the government fails to meet their demands within this window.

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“The ball is in their court. They have another opportunity to avoid a full-blown strike, but this is our final notice,” he emphasized.

Experts in the education sector are raising concerns over the potential fallout of another strike. Dr. Ayo Olukotun, a public policy analyst and university lecturer, noted, “Repeated strikes have crippled the academic calendar and undermined the quality of education. If this impasse continues, it could deepen the crisis of confidence in Nigeria’s public universities and drive more students abroad.”

In response to earlier threats, the federal government set up a joint committee in September comprising ASUU, the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the Ministry of Labour.

This committee was tasked with accelerating the implementation of outstanding issues, including granting universities the right to operate endowment funds outside the TSA and resolving salary discrepancies caused by IPPIS.

Despite these efforts, ASUU argues that key demands remain unaddressed, especially the financial autonomy of universities.

Education economist Dr. Jide Akintola cautioned, “The government’s delay in implementing agreements only prolongs the instability in the sector. The recurring strikes are damaging Nigeria’s educational reputation and reducing the competitiveness of graduates.”

With the clock ticking on ASUU’s latest ultimatum, stakeholders are urging the federal government to act swiftly to prevent another major disruption to academic activities.

The consequences of failing to address these longstanding issues, experts say, could have long-term implications for Nigeria’s higher education system and its future workforce.