One week after it issued a strike notice to the government and gave a two-week ultimatum, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the umbrella body of lecturers in public universities in Nigeria, have given a fresh update.
The union, in a memo addressed to its members nationwide and tagged “Strike Bulletin No 1,” signed by its National President, Chris Piwuna, a professor, advised members to always clarify issues with their local chairpersons and zonal leaders, instead of resorting to self-help.
According to the union, the resolution of the National Executive Council Committee, which was taken on Monday, 29 September, has since been conveyed to the appropriate authorities, including the Ministries of Education, Labour and Employment, and the Nigeria Labour Congress headquarters.
ASUU, however, said one week after the notice was issued, there has been no concrete feedback from the government.
The statement reads in part; “The resolutions were immediately communicated to the Honourable Minister of Labour, the Honourable Minister of Education and the Nigeria Labour Congress. 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.”
ASUU, therefore, urged its members nationwide to brace up ahead of the impending strike, saying, “We are strong when we organise, but weakened when we agonise!”
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“The days ahead call for mobilisation of every member of our union to ensure unity of purpose. No one should be left out of the struggle for our welfare, stem the Japa syndrome and reposition the Nigerian University System (NUS) for global competitiveness,” the statement added.
Backstory
DevReporting earlier reported that ASUU leadership declared that after 14 days from Monday, 29 September, and without any satisfactory resolution of its issues by the Nigerian government, a two-week warning strike would be declared.
The union said if the issues are still not satisfactorily addressed within the two weeks, it will commence an indefinite strike action.
The decision, contained in a notice personally signed by Mr Piwuna, a professor at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, was taken at an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union, which was held on Sunday, 28 September, at the Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja).
The decision followed the union’s congresses held across its branches nationwide, where members voted on the options suggested by its national leadership. The reports of the nationwide referendum were collated, and informed the ultimatum declared by the union.
The latest ASUU update, as contained in the memo addressed members nationwide, is reproduced below:
ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU)
STRIKE BULLETIN NO. 1
To: All ASUU Members
Dear Comrades,
STRIKE BULLETIN NO. 1
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 the government a fourteen-day ultimatum to resolve the issues contained in the negotiated document which has been transmitted to the 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 the government fails to take acceptable and satisfactory steps to address the lingering issues.
2. The resolutions were immediately communicated to the Honourable Minister of Labour, the Honourable Minister of Education and the Nigeria Labour Congress. 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.
3. 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 the government to sign and implement the renegotiated Agreement document, amongst other demands.
4. The days ahead call for mobilisation of every member of our union to ensure unity of purpose. No one should be left out of the struggle for our welfare, stem the Japa syndrome and reposition the Nigerian University System (NUS) for global competitiveness
5. 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.
6. 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.
United we bargain, divided we beg. Solidarity forever!
Christopher Piwuna
President
5th October, 2025
