The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a fresh warning to the Federal Government, announcing that it will commence a full-scale nationwide strike on November 21 if all unresolved issues affecting public universities remain unaddressed.
The ultimatum was delivered by the ASUU Owerri Zone, which includes the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Imo State University (IMSU), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka.
Ultimatum Followed Suspension of Warning Strike
ASUU said the deadline marks the end of a one-month grace period given to the government after the union suspended its two-week warning strike on 22 October—five days ahead of schedule.
The union explained that the early suspension was a show of goodwill to allow the government resolve the long-standing issues affecting academic staff welfare and the quality of public university education.
However, the Owerri Zone stated that the grace period is now almost exhausted, with no meaningful action taken by the government toward addressing the critical demands under negotiation.
Union Condemns Government’s “Selective Implementation”
During a press briefing, the ASUU zonal leadership expressed frustration over what it described as the government’s selective or partial implementation of agreements previously reached with the union.
ASUU noted that the federal government has repeatedly failed to honour the key components of the renegotiated agreements meant to improve funding, infrastructure, and conditions of service across public universities.
According to the union, these failures have contributed to:
- Worsening brain drain
- Declining quality of teaching and research
- Poor staff morale
- Continuous degradation of university facilities
Salary Proposal Rejected as “Insulting”
Another major concern raised by the union is the recent salary review proposal presented by the government.
ASUU described the proposed increment as “insufficient and unrealistic,” warning that such a structure cannot attract or retain qualified academics in the face of rising living costs and increasing migration of skilled lecturers to other countries.
The zonal leadership insisted that a comprehensive and competitive salary structure is necessary to revive Nigeria’s collapsing university system.
Outstanding Arrears and Deductions Still Unpaid
The union also faulted the government for failing to clear several outstanding financial obligations owed to its members. These include:
- Withheld three and a half months of salaries,
- Promotion arrears dating back to 2017,
- Unremitted third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union dues.
ASUU said these deductions were taken directly from lecturers’ salaries but never forwarded to the appropriate bodies, a development it described as “unacceptable and demoralizing.”
Universities Treated as Commercial Goods — ASUU
The Owerri Zone also condemned the federal and some state governments for treating public education as a commercial commodity rather than a public good.
According to the union, the government’s reluctance to prioritize education funding is a major driver of the repeated industrial crises that have destabilized the academic calendar for over a decade.
Implications of the Planned Strike
If the strike begins on November 21, academic activities across public universities—including lectures, examinations, project supervision, and research—are expected to be suspended indefinitely.
The development would affect:
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students
- Final-year projects and thesis defense schedules
- Ongoing research projects
- Academic calendars across multiple institutions
Education analysts warn that another prolonged shutdown could worsen the already unstable academic calendar, deepen youth frustration, and push more academics out of the country.
ASUU Calls on Stakeholders to Intervene
ASUU has appealed to parents, students, civil society groups, labour unions, and other stakeholders to mount pressure on the government to avoid a total system shutdown.
The union emphasized that the strike is not its preferred option, but a last resort forced by what it describes as government neglect.
What ASUU Wants Before November 21
To avert the planned strike, ASUU is insisting on:
- Full implementation of all previous agreements.
- Payment of withheld salaries and promotion arrears.
- Immediate release of all third-party deductions.
- A realistic salary structure that meets economic realities.
- A clear timeline for resolving outstanding issues.
The union stressed that only concrete action—not promises—will prevent the industrial action.
Awaiting Government Response as Deadline Approaches
As the November 21 deadline draws closer, all eyes are on the Federal Government.
Whether the administration will act swiftly to prevent another nationwide university shutdown remains uncertain.
Students, parents, and university administrators are watching closely, hoping for a resolution that will allow academic activities to continue uninterrupted.
