The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has directed lecturers in 20 universities to begin preparations for industrial action over alleged failure by the Federal and state governments to fully implement the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
The development has renewed fears of another disruption in Nigeria’s university system, months after the agreement was signed to end years of disputes between university lecturers and the government.
ASUU’s National Executive Council, NEC, reached the decision at its meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026.
The union directed the affected branches to issue 14-day ultimatums to their respective governments and university authorities, warning that strike action would commence if the outstanding issues were not resolved within the period.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
He said an emergency NEC meeting would be convened at the end of August or early September to assess developments and determine the union’s next steps.
The affected institutions are Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Gombe State University; Plateau State University, Bokkos; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Abia State University, Uturu; and University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa.
Others are Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo; Kaduna State University; Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Northwest University, Kano; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Imo State University; Niger Delta University; University of Africa, Toru-Orua; Bayelsa Medical University; and Taraba State University, Jalingo.
ASUU said the affected branches would proceed with the proposed strike immediately after the expiration of the ultimatum if their demands remained unresolved.
It added that branches in the Sokoto Zone had already issued a two-week ultimatum.
The union blamed the latest dispute on what it described as the “haphazard implementation” of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement and the Federal Government’s alleged failure to release the subvention required for its full implementation.
“NEC discussed the state of the struggle and noted that a significant milestone had been reached signing the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, but frowned at the haphazard implementation and lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government in the release of subvention to fully actualise the implementation of the said 2025 Agreement,” ASUU said.
The union also accused visitors to some state-owned universities of failing to implement provisions of the agreement, warning that the situation was undermining the gains recorded through the pact.
The agreement, signed in December 2025 after more than 16 years of negotiations, contained measures aimed at improving lecturers’ welfare, remuneration and working conditions while strengthening Nigeria’s public university system.
One of its major provisions was a 40 per cent increase in academic staff remuneration, effective January 1, 2026. The Federal Government announced in February that implementation of the salary adjustment had commenced.
The agreement also introduced the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, CATA, to cover expenses related to journal publications, membership of learned societies, conferences, internet access and books.
Professors were to receive a Professorial Cadre Allowance of N1.74 million annually, equivalent to N145,000 monthly, while readers were allocated N840,000 annually, or N70,000 monthly.
The pact also provided for the review of Earned Academic Allowances, including payments for postgraduate supervision and other academic responsibilities.
However, implementation has emerged as a fresh source of disagreement between the union and government.
ASUU said some universities had implemented only portions of the agreement, while others had allegedly failed to implement key provisions.
The union also expressed concern over delays in constituting the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which it said was necessary to prevent bureaucratic obstacles from frustrating the agreement.
With the 14-day ultimatum now underway, the Federal Government and the affected state governments face renewed pressure to resolve the outstanding issues and avert another major disruption to academic activities.
Meanwhile, ASUU’s NEC considered other matters affecting the university system, including academic promotions, appointments and campus security.
The union commended the withdrawal of two professorial appointments at the Federal University Lokoja following opposition and investigations by the university’s ASUU branch.
At the Federal University Wukari, however, NEC raised concerns over the promotion of a former registrar to the professorial cadre.
It consequently directed ASUU branches to resist the promotion of bursars and registrars who do not meet the professorial promotion requirements applicable to their institutions.
The union also raised fresh concerns over insecurity on university campuses, particularly attacks that have resulted in the deaths of some of its members.
It directed affected branches to petition the police and other security agencies over cases of insecurity and compile comprehensive reports for submission to the national leadership.
The latest development has placed renewed pressure on the government to address the outstanding provisions of the 2025 agreement before the dispute escalates into another prolonged crisis in Nigeria’s university system.
© 2026, Standard Focus. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from STANDARD FOCUS.