The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to branches in 20 Nigerian universities, warning of industrial action if outstanding issues are not resolved. The ultimatum was given during the union's National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026.
ASUU's Latest Move Linked to Poor Implementation of 2025 Agreement
The 2025 agreement was intended to address long-running problems affecting lecturers and Nigeria's public university system after years of negotiations. Under the agreement, academic staff were expected to receive a 40 per cent salary increase from January 1, 2026, alongside revised academic allowances and commitments on research, infrastructure, and other university-related issues. However, ASUU has complained that the agreement has not been implemented uniformly across universities, with delayed payments, outstanding allowances, funding, and the failure of some state governments to implement provisions of the agreement in their universities.
20 Universities on Notice: A List of Affected Institutions
The 20 universities named in the latest ASUU resolution are predominantly state-owned institutions, with disputes involving salaries, allowances, funding, and the 2025 agreement. The list includes institutions such as Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo. The union's decision does not mean that all 20 universities have already shut down, but rather that the affected ASUU branches have been authorised to issue 14-day ultimatums.
ASUU's Threat of Industrial Action Raises Concerns for Students and Parents
The situation is already more serious at some of the affected institutions, where local ASUU branches have taken or threatened separate action over unresolved issues. At Nasarawa State University, for instance, the ASUU branch has moved beyond an ultimatum and declared an indefinite strike over the non-implementation of the agreement and outstanding entitlements. For students and parents, the latest development raises concerns about another disruption to the academic calendar, particularly if more university branches follow the same path.
A Fresh Strike Could Disrupt Academic Activities
A fresh strike could disrupt academic activities, five years after ASUU's 2022 nationwide strike lasted 234 days. The 2022 strike involved issues including university funding, earned academic allowances, salary-related matters, revitalisation of public universities, and the renegotiation of previous agreements. If the outstanding issues are not resolved, more branches could begin industrial action, after which the union's national leadership would have to determine whether the dispute should be escalated.
What Happens Next
The countdown has begun, with the Federal Government, state governments, and university authorities facing a 14-day deadline to resolve outstanding issues. If the demands are not addressed, the branches may proceed with industrial action, which could lead to a fresh strike and disrupt academic activities. The situation remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the academic community is bracing itself for another potentially long and difficult period of negotiations.
Source: Pulse.ng
