The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially suspended its two-week “total and comprehensive” warning strike, which began on October 13, 2025.
The announcement was made by ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday. According to Piwuna, the suspension followed renewed commitments and interventions from the Federal Government and the National Assembly, particularly through engagements with the Yayale Ahmed-led committee and the Deputy Senate President.
However, the union made it clear that the suspension is only temporary, as it has issued a one-month ultimatum to the Federal Government to address its outstanding demands or face another round of industrial action.
The One-Month Ultimatum
Following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, ASUU resolved to give the government 30 days to finalize the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and tackle unresolved issues affecting public universities.
The major demands include the payment of outstanding salaries and earned academic allowances, the disbursement of the university revitalisation fund, and the review and implementation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement.
Prof. Piwuna emphasized that failure to act within the stipulated time would lead to the immediate resumption of the strike without further notice, warning that the government’s inaction could again disrupt the nation’s academic calendar.
The Federal Government, in response to the strike declaration, had earlier criticized ASUU’s decision and directed universities to enforce a “No Work, No Pay” policy. Vice-chancellors were also instructed to conduct roll calls of academic staff.
Meanwhile, the Senate stepped in last week, pledging to open a fresh negotiation process aimed at finding a permanent solution to the long-standing disputes between ASUU and the Federal Government.
As the new deadline looms, all eyes are now on the government to meet the union’s conditions and prevent another shutdown of Nigeria’s public universities.
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