Nigerian University Lecturers’ Union Threatens Nationwide Strike

Lev Shevtsov

11 September 2026 14:39

Nigerian university lecturers’ union threatens nationwide strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities of Nigeria (ASUU) said it may declare a nationwide strike if the government does not urgently resolve problems at public universities. This was reported by Premium Times Nigeria, citing a statement by union president Christopher Piwuna issued after an emergency meeting of the ASUU National Executive Committee.

Union demands

According to ASUU, the possible protest is caused by the incomplete or, in its view, unsystematic implementation of an agreement concluded with the government in December 2025. The agreement resulted from longstanding disputes between the union and Nigerian governments over funding and working conditions at public universities.

The union demands the full implementation of the agreement, payment of salary arrears to lecturers, and transfer of funds deducted from salaries for the benefit of third parties. ASUU claims that deductions for pension contributions, workers’ cooperative societies, and union dues have not been properly remitted for several months. According to the union, the amount of such deductions reaches billions of naira.

Piwuna said that apart from recent attempts by the Federal Ministry of Education to pay arrears to lecturers at federal agricultural universities, there have been no systemic steps to resolve the problems. ASUU warned that it may resume its previously suspended strike without further notice if its demands are not met.

Arrears and state universities

The union also called for lecturers to be paid the remaining three and a half months of salaries withheld during the 2022 labour dispute under President Muhammadu Buhari. At the time, the Buhari government withheld payments for seven and a half months, while the administration of President Bola Tinubu later paid salaries for four months.

ASUU also raised the issue of implementing the December 2025 agreement at state-owned universities. According to the union, its implementation began in Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Kebbi, Katsina, and Borno states. The authorities of Kano, Edo, Plateau, Taraba, Gombe, and Bayelsa states, according to ASUU, promised to begin implementing the agreements in September or October. The union said that a strike may begin at universities in states without adequate progress, with the support of its national leadership.