University Lecturers Set to Begin Two-Week Warning Strike on Monday: If nothing changes before Monday, I want to believe members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will begin a two-week warning strike across different campuses in Nigeria. This action is coming right after their earlier two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government ended without any meaningful step taken.
For example, many lecturers have said they have waited long enough and that their patience has reached its limit. I have seen that most of them just want the government to fulfill what it promised years ago. Even though the ultimatum ended on Sunday night, there has been no public comment or clear statement from the government about what will happen next.
ASUU branches in various universities have already started preparing for the industrial action. I will say that this is not the first time such a thing is happening in the country’s education sector, and a lot of students are now worried about how this might affect their semester again.
What Really Led to This Looming Strike
Let’s stay for example, this fresh clash between ASUU and the Federal Government did not just begin today. It is happening even while both sides are still having meetings to stop another strike from taking place. On Wednesday, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, spoke in Abuja and said the government had reached what he called the final phase of talks with ASUU and other related unions.
According to him, the discussion is mainly about funding, lecturers’ welfare, and how to finally settle the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement that has been on the table for years. He said the government had already released about ₦50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances, and another ₦150 billion has been included in the 2025 federal budget for needs assessment, to be shared in three parts.
Let check it — on paper, that really looks like progress. But from what I have heard, many lecturers are still not convinced. Some said they have seen this same kind of promise before, yet nothing came out of it.
What the Government Said
Dr. Alausa also mentioned that issues like promotion arrears, teaching allowances, and some other unpaid entitlements have already been handled. He said the rest will be cleared by 2026.
In his words, “Our lecturers deserve to be paid well, and both academic and non-academic staff should have better welfare. We may not give everything at once, but what is important is our sincerity and steady improvement.”
He also added that the present administration is serious about maintaining peace and stability in the country’s education system. He pleaded with the unions to be patient and continue in dialogue instead of going on strike.
“I will say this clearly,” he explained, “most of the issues have been resolved, and we are now only left with the condition of service. This government is sincere and committed to seeing progress.”
Interestingly, for the first time, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and some top officials from the Ministry of Justice are directly involved in the talks. According to Alausa, this is to make sure that every agreement reached will be legally strong and can be enforced without problems later.
ASUU’s Response
However, the story is not complete without ASUU’s side. The ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, was not happy with how things are going. He said that the Ministry of Education has a habit of delaying important issues affecting the lecturers.
In his words, “Our ultimatum will expire on Sunday, and after that, there will be a warning strike unless the government brings something serious to the table. Within the next 48 hours, we expect to get a clear response.”
He also mentioned that after the union receives whatever the government offers, they will still consult their members before deciding what to do next. “We will not act alone,” he said. “We will go back to our members and ask if this offer is enough for us to wait or to move on.”
Situation in Universities Across the Country
Reports from schools like the University of Jos, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), and the University of Abuja confirmed that preparations for the strike have already started.
At the University of Jos, I have learnt that ASUU leaders have been meeting with other union members to gather stronger support for the strike. One lecturer said, “We have had too many promises that never turned into anything. This time, we want to see real action, not empty talk.”
When our correspondent contacted the Federal Ministry of Education, the spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, simply declined to make any comment about the matter.
From how things look, the stage is already set for another round of strike action unless something changes at the very last minute. Many parents, students, and even lecturers have said they just want a stable education system that will not keep breaking down every few months.
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Will it affect our admission?
It won’t, but it will affect resumption