The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called off its two-week warning strike, giving the Federal Government a one-month window to meet its pending demands or risk another round of industrial action.
The suspension followed an emergency meeting of ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) held in Abuja between October 21 and 22.
The decision, according to ASUU president, Professor Chris Piwuna, came after fresh assurances from government representatives and lawmakers to resolve lingering disputes over welfare, funding, and the implementation of agreements reached more than a decade ago.
Piwuna, who briefed journalists on Wednesday, explained that the union had taken note of the constructive engagements held with the Yayale Ahmed-led renegotiation committee, the Deputy Senate President, and the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, which offered renewed hope of progress.
“The NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike with effect from midnight, Wednesday, 22 October 2025. However, if after one month no tangible steps are taken to address our core demands, the union will resume the strike without further notice,” he said.
The union’s warning strike, declared on October 13, followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government on September 28, 2025.
ASUU had accused the government of neglecting commitments related to the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU FG agreement, the release of withheld salaries, payment of earned allowances, and the revitalisation of public universities.
In response, the Federal Government criticised the industrial action, insisting that discussions were ongoing. The Ministry of Education also directed universities to compile attendance registers for lecturers and enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy, warning that the government would not remunerate any academic staff who failed to perform official duties during the strike.
After a series of closed door sessions, lawmakers pledged to convene all relevant stakeholders, including the Ministries of Education, Labour, and Finance, as well as the National Universities Commission (NUC), to work towards a lasting resolution.
ASUU confirmed that negotiation sessions held on October 16 and 18 had yielded measurable progress, though several issues remain unresolved. The union also commended the mediation efforts of the National Assembly and expressed cautious optimism that the intervention could restore stability to the university system.
“We acknowledge the efforts of patriotic Nigerians, particularly our students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress, whose support has been invaluable. This suspension is a show of goodwill, not surrender,” Piwuna added.
ASUU warned, however, that failure by the Federal Government to meet its promises within the next one month would leave the union with no choice but to resume industrial action.
The lecturers’ body restated its long-standing demand for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s public university system to ensure sustainable funding, academic freedom, and improved working conditions.
