University lecturers in Nigeria have warned that the country may face another wave of industrial action unless the Federal Government urgently addresses long-standing disputes affecting public higher education.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abuja Zone, issued the warning at a press conference in the capital on Monday. The Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Al-Amin Abdullahi—represented by Dr Sylvanus Ugoh of the University of Abuja—said the government had failed to demonstrate genuine commitment since the union suspended its two-week warning strike on 22 October.
The strike was halted after appeals from parents, students, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress and other stakeholders, with the union granting the government a one-month window to conclude negotiations.
“Nearly four weeks later, the Federal Government has not used this goodwill period effectively,” Abdullahi said. “The future of public universities cannot be sacrificed to political indifference or bureaucratic inertia.”
Key unresolved issues include the renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 ASUU Agreement, which covers university funding, academic autonomy, staff welfare and long-term revitalisation of the sector. The union also cited the non-release of salaries withheld for over three months, unpaid wage awards, and outstanding third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union dues.
Abdullahi said the financial strain on academics had become “devastating,” contributing to demoralisation within the sector and uncertainty for students who already face prolonged academic calendars and unstable learning environments.
The union criticised the government’s proposed salary adjustments, calling them inadequate. Although it acknowledged the payment of some promotion arrears dating back to 2017 and the release of certain third-party deductions, ASUU said these steps did not address the core issues.
“Public universities can only be revitalised through genuine negotiation,” Abdullahi said. “Where agreements are broken or deception replaces dialogue, ASUU has both a moral and constitutional duty to defend public education.”
He warned that ASUU would not hesitate to use lawful measures—including industrial action—if the government continued to “trivialise challenges undermining the system.”
The Abuja Zone of ASUU includes the University of Abuja, Federal University of Technology Minna, Federal University Lafia, Nasarawa State University Keffi and Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai.
