The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened a renewed confrontation with the Federal Government over what it describes as the flawed and partial implementation of the December 2025 agreement reached between both parties.
The union raised the alarm following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Modibbo Adama University, Yola, warning that unresolved issues could trigger a fresh wave of industrial action across Nigerian universities.
Speaking while presenting the communique in Abuja on Monday, ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, said growing frustration among academic staff over welfare concerns was reaching a critical point.
According to him, the situation reflects “government’s seeming disinterestedness in the welfare of Nigerian academics,” adding that continued delays in addressing outstanding demands could lead to renewed unrest in the tertiary education sector.
ASUU listed several unresolved issues, including the payment of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, promotion arrears, salary shortfalls linked to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and unremitted third-party deductions.
The union also raised concerns over outstanding arrears of the 25–35 per cent wage award, which it said remain unpaid despite previous commitments by the government.
Piwuna warned that the cumulative effect of these unresolved matters has created what he described as “pent-up anger” among lecturers nationwide.
“The increasing frustration occasioned by the seeming government’s disinterestedness in the welfare of Nigerian academics is brewing a pent-up anger which could erupt into a new wave of industrial unrest if not addressed,” he said.
ASUU urged the Federal Government to fully implement the December 2025 agreement and urgently resolve all outstanding issues in the interest of students, parents and national development.
The union also appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders in the education sector to intervene and pressure government authorities to act swiftly.
“Our union’s doors remain open for working with the government to realise all our demands,” Piwuna stated.
However, NEC directed that an emergency meeting be convened in the coming weeks to review developments and determine the next line of action if progress is not made.
The warning comes amid longstanding tensions between ASUU and the Federal Government over funding of public universities, salary structures and the implementation of previous agreements, issues that have repeatedly led to strikes in Nigeria’s higher education system.
