ASUU Warns of Looming Strike, Urges Stakeholders to Caution FG Over Unmet Demands

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that Nigerian university lecturers may be forced to embark on a nationwide strike if the Federal Government continues to ignore its longstanding demands.

The union made the call through its Akure Zonal Coordinator, Professor Adeola Egbedokun, at a press conference held on Tuesday at the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE).

Egbedokun expressed concern that despite repeated appeals, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has allegedly failed to address critical issues affecting the university system since assuming office nearly two years ago.

Key ASUU Demands

According to the zonal leader, ASUU’s grievances include:

• Implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement

• Sustainable funding and revitalisation of universities

• Payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears

• Resolution of stagnated promotions spanning over four years

• Remittance of third-party deductions

• An end to the alleged victimisation of union members in some institutions

Egbedokun warned that government inaction had “stretched lecturers’ patience to its breaking point.”

“We will fight back, and the consequences would be damning except the government takes a decisive step to attend to all our requests urgently. Our patience has reached its limit. Trust has been shattered, and only decisive government action can mend it,” he declared.

Call for Stakeholder Intervention

The ASUU coordinator urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, the National Assembly, and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to prevail on the government to avert another disruption of the academic calendar.

He noted that the National Executive Committee (NEC) had resolved to keep “all options on the table” pending the government’s proposed meeting scheduled for August 28, 2025.

Loan Policy Rejection

Egbedokun also criticised the Federal Government’s loan scheme for lecturers, describing it as a “sinister trap” that would undermine cooperative societies and plunge members into “perpetual bondage.”

“This loan policy is nothing but a crude distraction and a sinister snare. It is designed to suffocate our members and push them into economic slavery,” he said.

Peaceful Rallies Held

As part of its preparations, ASUU members across the Akure zone reportedly held peaceful rallies on their various campuses on Monday, which Egbedokun described as a “test-run of the next move” should the government fail to act.

The union maintains that only urgent and sincere engagement by the government can avert another nationwide strike in Nigeria’s public universities.