The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed all its branches across Nigeria to commence a nationwide two-week warning strike starting at midnight on Monday, October 13, 2025. The union’s National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, announced the industrial action in a press conference held at the University of Abuja on Sunday, citing ongoing government inaction in addressing the union’s longstanding demands affecting public universities.

ASUU issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on September 28, 2025, demanding progress on various unresolved issues before the strike deadline. The ultimatum passed without satisfactory government response, prompting the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) to resolve on the strike. According to Professor Piwuna, despite several press engagements and peaceful rallies staged by ASUU members in August 2025, the government has continued to neglect the education sector and failed to honor previous agreements, including the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement.

Professor Piwuna described the strike as total and comprehensive, instructing every ASUU branch to withdraw services fully. This will be the union’s first nationwide strike since 2022 and the first since President Bola Tinubu’s administration began. The 2022 strike spanned eight months before an industrial court ordered its suspension. The current strike warning reflects recurring frustrations over government neglect, with academics lamenting continued poor funding, inadequate infrastructure, unpaid salaries and allowances, and deteriorating working conditions across Nigerian universities.

ASUU’s strikes historically disrupt the academic calendar, delaying students’ graduations and undermining the quality of university education. Earlier studies have shown that frequent strike actions result in missed lectures and tutorials, heightening academic performance challenges for students. Many Nigerian students also face emotional and psychological stress due to uncertainty around academic timelines. The prolonged disruptions undermine the reputation and credibility of Nigerian university education on both national and international stages.

The Federal Government has responded by urging dialogue and requesting ASUU to shelve the strike “in the interest of students.” The government has also stated that existing labor laws, including the “no work, no pay” principle, could be invoked during strike periods. However, ASUU maintains that only meaningful government action on agreed issues will prevent the strike. As the warning strike begins, all eyes are on the government and union leaders to see if dialogue will resume and lead to lasting solutions for Nigeria’s public universities.

In summary, the ASUU two-week warning strike marks a critical moment in the ongoing struggle for adequate funding and better conditions in Nigerian higher education. The strike’s impact will be felt across all public universities, affecting students, staff, and families. Moving forward, renewed and sincere engagement between the government and ASUU is essential to avoid prolonged disruptions and restore stability to the nation’s university sector.