NIGERIA: ASUU Suspends Industrial Action, Issues One-Month Deadline to FG

By Hamzat Ameenat, Lagos, Nigeria

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike, which began on October 13, 2025, following renewed commitments from the Federal Government and the National Assembly to address the union’s long-standing demands.

ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, announced the suspension at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the decision followed recent interventions and engagements with the Yayale Ahmed-led committee and the Deputy Senate President.

Piwuna stated: “The union has resolved to suspend the warning strike to give room for the government to fulfil its promises. However, we make it clear that failure to take concrete steps within one month will compel us to resume the action without prior notice.”

The union urged the government to use the one-month window to address issues including the review of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned academic allowances, and release of funds for university revitalisation.

ASUU had declared a two-week “total and comprehensive” strike on October 12 after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government on September 28, citing unfulfilled commitments on staff welfare, infrastructure development, and implementation of the 2009 agreement.

Following the strike declaration, the Federal Government criticised ASUU’s action, insisting that it was already addressing the issues raised. It subsequently directed universities to enforce a “No Work, No Pay” policy, in line with labour laws.

The Ministry of Education, in a circular, instructed vice-chancellors to conduct roll calls and physical headcounts of academic staff and submit attendance reports showing those who were on duty during the strike period.

Meanwhile, the Senate last week intervened in the dispute, describing the recurring university strikes as unacceptable. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Aliyu Dandutse, disclosed that the upper chamber would initiate negotiations involving ASUU, the Ministry of Education, and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to reach a lasting resolution.

The Senate also pledged to engage the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to resolve the dispute over the University of Abuja land allocation, one of the issues raised during the engagements.

The suspension of the strike brings temporary relief to students and parents, though ASUU warned that industrial action could resume if the government fails to act decisively within the next month.