ASUU Lecturers Stage Nationwide Protests, Threaten Strike Action

Academic activities across Nigerian universities are in jeopardy after members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) held nationwide protests, leaving students without supervision.

The protests have reignited fears of a potential prolonged strike in the higher education sector.

Lecturers gathered simultaneously in various states, carrying placards and singing solidarity songs. They demanded that the federal government resolve unresolved issues related to unpaid salaries, withheld benefits, and insufficient funding for public universities.

ASUU representatives accused the government of showing indifference to the struggles of lecturers and students and warned that the protests could lead to industrial action if immediate measures are not taken.

In Abuja, lecturers marched around university premises, calling for the release of owed academic allowances and revitalisation funds. Similar actions took place in Lagos, Akure, Jos, and other university towns.

During the protest, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, chairman of the ASUU chapter at Yakubu Gowon University, explained that the action aimed to highlight the financial hardship facing academic staff nationwide.

He lamented that lecturers have remained on the same pay scale since 2009 despite repeated promises of biennial reviews. According to him, the 2009 agreement was due for renegotiation in 2012 but was only reconsidered in 2017 and finalised in February 2025 under the Yayale Ahmed-led committee.

“Since that report was submitted, we have not heard anything from the federal government. Today, it is becoming increasingly difficult for our members to cope. All over the nation, you hear of the deaths of academic staff, many of which are stress-related,” Ugoh said.

At a press briefing at the Federal University, Oye‑Ekiti, Professor Adeola Egbedokun, zonal coordinator for the ASUU Akure Zone, voiced frustration over the federal government’s failure to address ASUU’s demands since President Bola Tinubu took office two years ago.

He noted that the government’s continued inaction had stretched lecturers’ patience to the limit.

Egbedokun outlined ASUU’s demands, which include enforcement of the 2009 ASUU‑FGN Agreement, sustainable funding for universities, infrastructure upgrades, payment of owed salary arrears, stalled promotions, unreleased third‑party deductions, and an end to victimisation of members.

“We will fight back, and the consequences would be damning unless the government takes a decisive step to attend to our requests urgently. While we take note of the government’s planned meeting of 28 August 2025, let it be clear that the clock is ticking,” he said.

He warned that ASUU’s National Executive Committee had kept “all options on the table” and called on Nigerians, the National Assembly, and traditional leaders to intervene before the situation deteriorates.

In Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, lecturers suspended scheduled exams in solidarity with the protests. Professors, associate professors, and senior lecturers marched through major thoroughfares, holding banners that read: “Our salaries are too low.” “Pay us sustainable living salaries”, and “We are FG lecturers, not borrowers.”

Strike Disrupts UNIUYO Exams
As anticipated, students are among the casualties of the lecturers’ industrial action. Semester examinations at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) have been disrupted by the ASUU strike, leading to outcry from stranded students on both the town campus on Ikpa Road and the main campus in Nwaniba in Uyo, the state capital.

Professors and senior lecturers marched across both campuses, holding placards. Addressing the crowd, ASUU branch chair Professor Opeyemi Olajide expressed regret that federal university lecturers have received the same salary for over 16 years despite harsh economic challenges.

“We Are Tired Of FG Deceptions” at ATBU
The ASUU branch at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) stated that it does not plan to strike or disrupt academic activity but warned that continued failure by the federal government to meet demands would make this unavoidable.

Speaking during a peaceful protest, Dr Haruna Angulu, ASUU‑ATBU chairperson, said the union remains dedicated to advancing education and seeks to avert disruption.

Earned Academic Allowance Paltry—ASUU‑PLASU
The ASUU chapter at Plateau State University (ASUU‑PLASU) criticised the university for unilaterally integrating an insignificant amount as earned academic allowance (EAA) into staff salaries without union consent. Warning that this could trigger industrial action if not rectified, the union explained that EAA should be computed and disbursed at the end of an academic session based on staff-student ratios following teaching, assessment, and supervision.

Chapter chair Dr Monday Hassan and secretary Dr Lomka Iliya Kopdiya made this statement during a protest march in Bokkos. They added that after a 2021 strike, the Plateau State Government substantially increased the university’s monthly funding to cover EAA payments.

“We’re Tired of Empty Rhetoric” at Sokoto Institutions
ASUU chapters at Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State University, and Shehu Shagari University of Education issued a stern warning to the federal government, demanding concrete action. During protests, Professor Nurudeen Almustapha, chair at Usman Danfodiyo University, emphasised the government must honour the Yayale Ahmed report submitted in February 2025.

Reverend Sister, Seven Professors Lead Protest at Umudike
At Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, a Reverend Sister, along with seven professors, led a peaceful protest. Chair Professor Michael Ugwuene, joined by professors Uzochukwu Onyebinama, Chukwuma Ofor, Okwulehe Ikechukwu, Chukwuma Ononuju, Mabel Onwuka, and Chinyere Echendu, called on the government to respond promptly to ASUU’s demands.

NDU Lecturers Reject FG Loan Scheme
At Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, ASUU members protested the FG’s loan scheme, calling it a form of “generational bondage” for academics and their children.

After an emergency meeting, lecturers marched throughout the university with placards reading “Federal Government should sign 2009 renegotiated agreement,” “Release already budgeted funds for revitalisation of public universities,” and “Pay 25%, 35% wage awards.” ASUU‑NDU chair Lucky Bebeteidor Oyinkepreye said the protest served as a reminder of unfulfilled promises and a rejection of the proposed loan scheme.

Academic Activities Disrupted in Ebonyi Varsity
ASUU’s nationwide protest for the release of three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries disrupted academic activities at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE‑FUNAI) in Ebonyi State. Protesters demanded the renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 ASUU‑FGN agreement.

Large numbers of lecturers marched around both campuses, chanting solidarity slogans and holding placards demanding improved conditions. The protest, which lasted more than four hours, was monitored by security personnel to prevent unrest. AE‑FUNAI chairperson Comrade Louis Omenyi accused the federal government of paying lecturers outdated and deficient salaries, describing this as unacceptable.

BUK Threatens Further Actions Over Unmet Demands
At Bayero University, Kano (BUK), ASUU members joined their peers in a peaceful protest, lamenting unresolved agreements dating back to 2022. Vice-Chair Comrade Yusuf Madugu told reporters that although negotiations concluded in December 2024, the government has not acted. He noted that only four of the 7.5 months of withheld salaries from the 2022 strike have been paid.

NAU Lecturers Protest Poor Salary
Lecturers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, staged protests over poor pay. Led by union chair Innocent C. Nnubia and zonal coordinator Professor Dennis Aribodor, lecturers marched through campus with placards, highlighting low salaries and deteriorating infrastructure and warning of boycotts if their demands are not addressed. Speaking to the Vice-Chancellor’s representative, Professor Pius Okoye, the ASUU chair outlined the union’s concerns.

ASUU‑UNN Ready for Nationwide Strike
At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), ASUU members declared readiness for a nationwide indefinite strike should the government fail to respond adequately. Branch chair Comrade Oyibo Eze announced this during a media briefing in Nsukka following the union’s congress and a protest rally.

Government Action ‘Wicked, Heartless’ at FUTA
At the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), ASUU mobilised its members in protest over the government’s neglect of universities.

Professor Pius Mogaji, chapter chair, criticised the government’s disregard for key demands such as renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, sustainable funding and care for retired staff, calling the inaction “wicked, heartless” and detrimental to higher education’s foundation.

Implement Agreement, Not Handouts at UNIMAID
At Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (UNIMAID), professors rejected the loan scheme and insisted on full implementation of the renegotiated agreement rather than temporary handouts.

Dr  Saidu Mshelia noted that the government’s six-month delay in implementing the February 2025 Yayale Ahmed Committee Report was bad faith and contrary to collective bargaining principles upheld by the ILO. He said that continuous sabotage of agreements has pushed lecturers into poverty amid rising inflation.

“ASUU rejects this economic injustice and will resist any attempt to erode the integrity of Nigeria’s university system. Enough is enough,” he declared.

UI and EAUI Lecturers Warn of Strike Without Agreement by 28 August
Lecturers at the University of Ibadan and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo (EAUI) staged a peaceful protest against the delay in signing renegotiated agreements, warning that only government action by 28 August would prevent another strike.

UI chapter chair Professor Adefemi Afolabi and the Nigeria Labour Congress in Oyo State joined the plea. The protest at EAUI was led by chapter chair Dr Michael Bamidele Ojo.

UNILORIN Lecturers Demand 2009 Agreement Implementation
At the University of Ilorin, ASUU members held a rally highlighting the crisis caused by the delayed implementation of agreements. Protesters held placards reading: “Honour and implement your agreement with ASUU,” “We demand improved facilities in our universities,” “University workers are not slaves,” and “Increase budgetary allocation for education.”

Chair Dr Alex Akanmu called on the public to pressure the government to meet demands to avert further academic calendar disruptions.