At least sixteen universities across Nigeria have joined the two-week warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), following the union’s renewed face-off with the Federal Government over unfulfilled agreements. The strike, which commenced at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, October 13, 2025, has grounded academic activities nationwide, marking yet another chapter in the long-standing struggle between Nigerian lecturers and the government.
The universities that have officially joined the industrial action include Kwara State University (KWASU), University of Benin (UNIBEN), Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), University of Calabar (UNICAL), Federal University Dutse (FUD), Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), University of Jos (UNIJOS), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Bayero University Kano (BUK), University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).
According to ASUU, the strike is aimed at drawing the Federal Government’s attention to what it described as “continued neglect of the education sector.” The union accused the government of failing to honour previous agreements on university revitalization funds, payment of earned academic allowances, and the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FG Agreement.
Sources within the union said the decision to embark on the two-week warning strike was taken after an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja, where members unanimously voted for the action. The union’s leadership reportedly warned that if the government continues to show “nonchalance,” the strike could escalate into a full-blown, indefinite industrial action.
A lecturer at the University of Ibadan, who spoke under anonymity, said the strike was inevitable given the government’s persistent failure to meet its promises. “We have been patient for too long. Our facilities are deteriorating, salaries are irregular, and funding is inadequate. This warning strike is a signal that our tolerance has reached its limit,” the lecturer said.
Similarly, the Chairman of ASUU at the University of Benin, Dr. Emmanuel Osahon, said that the action was a necessary move to “wake up the government.” He noted that the Federal Government’s approach to higher education has been disappointing. “Every agreement ends in a cycle of neglect. The system is collapsing and lecturers are overworked and underpaid,” he lamented.
In response, a senior official of the Federal Ministry of Education, who pleaded not to be named, described the ongoing strike as “unfortunate but unnecessary.” The official claimed that the government was already making efforts to address ASUU’s demands through ongoing consultations with relevant agencies. “Dialogue is still open. We appeal to the union to call off the strike in the interest of students,” he stated.
The ongoing industrial action has sparked mixed reactions among students, with many expressing frustration over the disruption of their academic calendars. A 400-level student at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ifeoluwa Adebayo, said, “Every time there’s progress, ASUU goes on strike. We are tired of being the victims of government and union disagreements.” Others, however, expressed support for the lecturers, saying their demands were legitimate and long overdue.
A review of ASUU’s strike history since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 shows a recurring pattern of industrial unrest. The union has embarked on major strikes in 1999 (5 months), 2001 (3 months), 2003 (6 months), 2009 (4 months), 2010 (5 months), 2013 (5 months), 2017 (1 month), 2018 (3 months), 2020 (9 months), and 2022 (8 months) some of which crippled academic calendars for years.
Notably, in 2020, ASUU staged the longest strike in its history, lasting nine months, largely due to disagreements over the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and university autonomy. The 2022 strike also stretched for eight months before the intervention of the National Industrial Court. These repeated disruptions have contributed to prolonged graduation timelines and declining confidence in public universities.
For 2025, this is the second industrial action embarked upon by ASUU, following a brief one-day warning strike in July that was called off after emergency talks. The union’s October action, however, appears to carry a firmer tone, as officials insist that there will be “no retreat” unless concrete steps are taken by the Federal Government.
As the two-week warning strike continues, education watchers warn that the government must act quickly to avoid a full-scale shutdown of public universities. Many believe that resolving the current impasse requires sincerity, adequate funding, and mutual respect between the Federal Government and ASUU. Until then, Nigeria’s higher education system remains at another critical crossroads—caught between policy neglect and the lecturers’ unyielding demand for justice.
