The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially announced Tuesday, August 26, 2025, as a national day of protest to be observed across public university campuses nationwide. The declaration was made on Saturday, following the union’s continued dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s handling of lingering issues affecting the public university system in Nigeria.
According to ASUU, the protest is aimed at drawing urgent attention to what it describes as the government’s consistent neglect of agreements, poor funding of tertiary institutions, delayed salaries, and non-implementation of collective bargaining terms reached over the years. The union said the decision was taken after exhaustive consultations among its branches, highlighting the growing frustration within the academic community.
In a statement issued by the union’s national leadership, ASUU stated that the protests would be held simultaneously in all member institutions across the country and would serve as a warning to the government that the patience of university lecturers is wearing thin. The union emphasized that the planned demonstrations are not industrial action but a show of solidarity, mobilisation, and public sensitisation.
The lecturers’ body expressed deep concern over the continued underfunding of universities, non-payment of earned academic allowances, and the unresolved issues surrounding the implementation of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), which ASUU insists should replace the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) currently used by the government.
The union also criticised what it described as the rising politicisation of education in Nigeria and warned that unless concrete steps are taken to reverse the trend, the public university system may suffer irreversible damage.
ASUU further called on students, parents, civil society organisations, and the general public to support the protest and join in demanding accountability, transparency, and proper investment in education. They stressed that the future of Nigeria’s youth and the stability of the country’s higher education system depend on it.
With the declaration of the protest date, university communities across the country are expected to witness mass rallies, lectures, and peaceful demonstrations led by ASUU chapters on Tuesday.
