The Academic Staff Union of Universities has threatened to shut down public universities across Nigeria again if the Federal Government and state authorities fail to address its outstanding demands and fully implement the 2025 agreement reached with the union.
The warning followed an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council held on September 5, 2026. ASUU said it could reactivate its suspended industrial action without further notice if meaningful steps are not taken to resolve the issues affecting university lecturers.
Among the union’s major concerns are the incomplete implementation of the December 2025 agreement, unpaid withheld salaries and billions of naira in deductions from workers’ salaries that have not been remitted...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
ASUU said lecturers are still owed three and a half months out of the seven and a half months of salaries withheld during the previous administration, despite the payment of four months by the current government. The union also raised concerns about the declining value of the outstanding arrears due to inflation and currency devaluation.
The union further demanded the remittance of third party deductions, including pension contributions, cooperative funds and union dues. It maintained that these unresolved issues continue to put pressure on university workers and the wider education system.
ASUU also acknowledged progress in some states, including Abia, Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Kebbi, Katsina and Borno, while several other states have reportedly made commitments toward implementing the agreement.
However, the union warned that state governments that fail to comply could face industrial action affecting their respective state owned universities.
The latest threat has raised fresh concerns among Nigerian students and parents, particularly because previous ASUU strikes have repeatedly disrupted academic calendars and extended students’ time in school.
ASUU’s latest position now puts pressure on both the Federal Government and state authorities to resolve the outstanding issues and prevent another disruption to academic activities across the country.
