The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the governments and authorities of 20 universities a 14-day ultimatum to resolve outstanding issues around the implementation of its 2025 agreement with the Federal Government, or face industrial action.
The decision was reached during a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, amid growing concern over delays and inconsistencies in implementing the pact.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, disclosed the development in a statement on Monday, saying affected branches had been directed to prepare for strike action should the issues remain unresolved within the given timeframe. He added that an emergency NEC meeting would be held towards the end of August or early September to review the situation and determine the union’s next steps.
The affected universities include 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.
According to the union, affected branches will commence industrial action once the 14-day window expires if outstanding matters remain unresolved. ASUU also said its branches in the Sokoto Zone had already issued a similar two-week ultimatum.
The union blamed the renewed dispute on inadequate implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement and delays by the Federal Government in releasing the funds needed to fulfil its obligations under the pact. NEC noted that while a significant milestone had been reached in signing the agreement, it frowned at what it called the haphazard implementation and lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government in releasing subvention for full implementation. ASUU also accused authorities overseeing some state-owned universities of failing to implement agreed provisions, warning this could undermine progress made so far.
The agreement, reached in December 2025 after more than 16 years of negotiations, addressed longstanding issues affecting university lecturers, including salaries, research funding, academic allowances and staff welfare. Among its key provisions was a 40% increase in academic staff remuneration effective January 1, 2026, which the Federal Government said in February had begun to be paid. It also introduced the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to support expenses relating to academic publications, conferences, learned societies, internet access and books.
Under the agreement, professors are entitled to a Professorial Cadre Allowance of N1.74 million yearly (N145,000 monthly), while readers are entitled to N840,000 annually (N70,000 monthly). It also provided for adjustments to Earned Academic Allowances covering postgraduate supervision and other academic responsibilities, alongside measures targeting research, infrastructure and institutional development.
ASUU said implementation had not been uniform across universities, with some institutions implementing only portions of the salary-related provisions and others yet to implement certain aspects of the agreement. The union also expressed concern over delays in setting up the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which it said was crucial to resolving bureaucratic obstacles that could frustrate implementation.
