Barely a week before the commencement of its planned nationwide strike, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has begun mobilising members across universities in the country.
The union said the move followed the Federal Government’s continued silence despite receiving a formal strike notice addressed to all relevant authorities, including the Minister of Labour and Employment, Maigari Dingyadi.
ASUU had, last Monday, announced plans to shut down all public universities in Nigeria to press home its long-standing demands.
The union explained that the notice, which took effect from Sunday, September 28, 2025, would precede a two-week warning strike before escalating into a total and indefinite action if the government failed to respond appropriately.
However, in a fresh letter signed by the union’s President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, and circulated to all ASUU branches, the union said it had no choice but to proceed with the strike in response to what it described as government’s nonchalance.
In the letter dated October 5, 2025, and obtained by Daily Trust on Monday, Piwuna lamented the absence of any meaningful progress in efforts to resolve the lingering issues.
He said, “The National Executive Council (NEC) of our Union, at its emergency meeting of 29th September, 2025, having evaluated the results of the referendum held across our branches, resolved to give government a fourteen-day ultimatum to resolve the issues contained in the negotiated document which has been transmitted to government since February, 2025.”
“It was further resolved that the union will proceed on a two-week warning strike at the expiration of the ultimatum if government fails to take acceptable and satisfactory steps to address the lingering issues.”
“The resolutions were immediately communicated to the Honourable Minister of Labour, the Honourable Minister of Education and the Nigeria Labour Congress.”
According to Piwuna, “It is now one week since those resolutions were reached and communicated to the appropriate authorities. I regret to inform you that there is no meaningful development deserving of any consideration to be reported.”
He continued, “As we enter the second and final week of the ultimatum, I thank you on behalf of NEC for the patience and understanding which you demonstrated since the commencement of this tortuous negotiation that has unjustifiably lasted over eight years.”
“The goal of our current action remains principally to compel Government to sign and implement the renegotiated agreement document, amongst other demands.”
Piwuna further charged all ASUU members to intensify mobilisation efforts, stressing the need for unity and collective resolve in the days ahead.
“The days ahead call for mobilization of every member of our union to ensure unity of purpose. No one should be left out of the struggle to our welfare, stem the Japa syndrome and reposition the Nigeria University System (NUS) for global competitiveness.”
“We are strong when we organise, but weakened when we agonise! Our Union has always acted in solidarity as a collective; this action will not be different.”
He urged members to follow official instructions and remain committed to the collective cause, stating, “Members are to take instructions only from their Chairpersons. When in doubt, members should consult their Chairpersons, Zonal Coordinators and attend Congress meetings regularly for updates on further developments.”