Nigerians are bracing for another round of academic disruption as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially declared a nationwide strike, citing the non-payment of withheld salaries and repeated breaches of prior agreements by the Federal Government. The decision was announced on Tuesday, July 9, 2025, following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja.
ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, told reporters that the union had exhausted all peaceful avenues to resolve the matter before resorting to industrial action. He said the government’s refusal to pay backlog salaries owed to lecturers who participated in the 2022 and 2023 strikes is not only illegal but also a clear sign of “bad faith and dishonesty.”
The latest strike is expected to affect over 90 public universities across Nigeria, with immediate suspension of lectures, project defenses, and academic activities. ASUU insists that despite multiple memoranda signed with the government, the core issues—including university revitalization funding, earned academic allowances, and full salary restoration—remain unresolved.
Lecturers across federal institutions have not received full payments for seven months, following the enforcement of the “No Work, No Pay” policy. Despite a partial release of funds earlier this year, most institutions reported discrepancies in payment and zero clarity from the Ministry of Finance or the Office of the Accountant General.
Prof. Osodeke described the current action as “total and indefinite” until the Federal Government fulfills all outstanding obligations. He criticized what he called “deliberate neglect of tertiary education,” warning that continued underfunding and salary delays will destroy the university system and push more lecturers abroad.
Student unions and education stakeholders have reacted sharply to the announcement, expressing frustration over the recurring cycle of strikes. Many students, already behind on academic calendars due to past disruptions, now face more uncertainty, with some threatening to organize solidarity protests nationwide if the deadlock is not resolved swiftly.
ASUU urged the public to hold the government accountable for the breakdown in dialogue and the failure to prioritize education. The union reaffirmed its commitment to protecting academic integrity and the welfare of its members, stating that no meaningful learning can happen under unjust and hostile conditions.
