The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has initiated the mobilization of its members across all Nigerian universities for an impending nationwide strike. This action stems from the Federal Government's persistent failure to address the union's long-standing demands, most notably the conclusion of the renegotiation of the contentious 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement. Last week, ASUU had issued a 14-day nationwide strike notice to the government, urging it to resolve all outstanding issues.

Expressing deep frustration over the government's lukewarm responses and its silence following the two-week ultimatum served to the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Maigari Dingyadi, lecturers feel they have exhausted all other options. The union has thus decided to mobilize its members to shut down universities upon the expiration of the 14-day notice. According to ASUU, the strike notice, which commenced on Sunday, September 28, 2025, will first lead to a two-week warning strike before escalating into a total and indefinite industrial action.

Professor Chris Piwuna, the President of ASUU, conveyed in a recent memo to all branches of the union, dated October 5, 2025, that the union sees no alternative but to close universities through strike action due to the government's conduct. He lamented the lack of meaningful progress in resolving the issues. Piwuna's memorandum detailed that the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU, at its emergency meeting on September 29, 2025, evaluated referendum results from its branches and consequently resolved to issue a fourteen-day ultimatum to the government. This ultimatum was intended to compel the government to address issues outlined in a negotiated document that had been transmitted to them since February 2025.

The NEC further resolved that if the government failed to take acceptable and satisfactory steps to address the lingering issues by the ultimatum's expiration, the union would proceed with a two-week warning strike. These resolutions were promptly communicated to the Honourable Minister of Labour, the Honourable Minister of Education, and the Nigeria Labour Congress. Piwuna noted with regret that a week after these resolutions were communicated, there had been no significant development. He thanked members for their patience during the