The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, demanding immediate implementation of the newly approved salary structure for university lecturers or risk a nationwide strike.
The union gave a four-day deadline, with its president, Christopher Piwuna, stating that failure to act within the stipulated time would lead to decisive action that could disrupt activities across public universities.
Speaking at Sa’adu Zungur University in Bauchi State, Piwuna insisted that the government must begin paying lecturers under the revised salary structure without further delay. He warned that the union would not hesitate to respond if the agreement is ignored.
The ultimatum follows a renegotiated agreement reached in January between ASUU and the federal government, aimed at resolving long-standing disputes and preventing recurring industrial actions that have repeatedly affected Nigeria’s university system.
A major component of the agreement is the updated pay structure, designed to improve lecturers’ welfare and address unresolved issues from the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, much of which has remained unfulfilled over the years.
Despite initial optimism, ASUU says there has been little progress in implementing the deal. According to the union, several federal universities are already struggling to meet salary obligations, with some unable to fully pay January wages and others yet to settle February salaries.
The situation recently escalated at the University of Lagos, where lecturers embarked on an indefinite strike over unpaid salaries before suspending the action after discussions with the institution’s management.
ASUU attributes the delay in implementing the new salary structure partly to challenges such as the slow passage of the 2026 national budget.
With the deadline now in place, pressure is mounting on the government to act swiftly and prevent another disruption to academic activities in public universities nationwide.
