Strike: ASUU summons emergency NEC meeting

Fresh uncertainty is looming over Nigeria’s public university system as the Academic Staff Union of Universities announced plans to convene an emergency National Executive Council meeting to decide on possible industrial action over unresolved disputes with the Federal Government.

The union issued the warning after its NEC meeting held at Modibbo Adama University, accusing the government of failing to fully implement the December 2025 agreement reached with university lecturers.

In a statement signed by ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, the union said frustration was growing among lecturers due to unpaid entitlements and delays in implementing agreed welfare packages.

ASUU listed the unresolved issues to include withheld three-and-a-half months salaries, promotion arrears, salary shortfalls linked to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, unremitted third-party deductions, and outstanding arrears of the 25–35 per cent wage award.

The union warned that the continued delay in addressing the issues could destabilise academic activities across public universities.

“Our union’s doors remain open for working with government to realise all our demands. At the same time, NEC directs an emergency meeting of NEC to be called in the next few weeks to review the situation and take appropriate action as may be necessary,” the statement read.

The development comes barely five months after ASUU and the Federal Government reportedly reached a new agreement aimed at ending years of crisis in the university system.

The agreement, which took effect from January 1, 2026, reportedly included a 40 per cent salary increase for lecturers, improved pension benefits, and revised Earned Academic Allowances.

However, ASUU claimed implementation has remained inconsistent, with several promises yet to be fulfilled by the government.

The union appealed to Nigerians and stakeholders to intervene and urge both federal and state governments to fully implement the agreement to prevent another disruption in the university sector.

Recurring strikes by ASUU over funding, salaries, and welfare issues have repeatedly disrupted academic calendars in Nigeria’s public universities, affecting millions of students nationwide.