The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially declared a nationwide strike, citing the Federal Government’s continued failure to address lingering issues affecting the nation’s public universities. The union announced the decision after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at its national secretariat, where members unanimously resolved to down tools.
According to ASUU, the industrial action became inevitable following what it described as the government’s consistent neglect of agreements previously reached, including concerns over unpaid academic allowances, poor funding of universities, withheld salaries, and the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), which the union has long opposed.
ASUU leadership emphasized that the strike action would remain indefinite until tangible steps are taken by the authorities to meet their demands. The union also expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to demonstrate genuine commitment to revamping the education sector, despite repeated engagements and warnings.
The decision has already begun to impact academic calendars across federal and some state universities, with students forced to vacate campuses or suspend ongoing academic activities. ASUU has called on parents, civil society organisations, and concerned Nigerians to hold the government accountable, stressing that the strike is a necessary sacrifice to save Nigeria’s public university system from total collapse.
