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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given governments and university authorities of 20 universities 14 days to resolve outstanding issues surrounding the implementation of the 2025 agreement with the Federal Government or face industrial action.
The union’s National Executive Council (NEC) decided during its meeting at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026, amid growing concerns over what it described as delays and inconsistencies in implementing the agreement.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday, saying the affected university branches had been directed to prepare for strike action if the issues were not resolved within the stipulated period.
He added that an emergency NEC meeting would be held towards the end of August or early September to review the situation and determine the union’s next steps.
The universities affected by the directive include Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Gombe State University; Plateau State University, Bokkos; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Abia State University, Uturu; and University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa.
Others are Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo; Kaduna State University; Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Northwest University, Kano; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Imo State University; Niger Delta University; University of Africa, Toru-Orua; Bayelsa Medical University; and Taraba State University, Jalingo.
According to the union, the affected branches will commence industrial action once the 14-day window expires if the outstanding matters remain unresolved. ASUU also said its branches in the Sokoto Zone had already issued a similar two-week ultimatum.
The union blamed the renewed dispute on what it called inadequate implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, as well as delays by the Federal Government in releasing funds needed to fulfil its obligations under the pact.
“NEC discussed the state of the struggle and noted that a significant milestone had been reached signing the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, but frowned at the haphazard implementation and lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government in the release of subvention to fully actualise the implementation of the said 2025 Agreement,” the union said.
ASUU also accused authorities overseeing some state-owned universities of failing to implement agreed provisions, warning that such actions could undermine the progress achieved through the agreement.
The agreement, reached in December 2025 after more than 16 years of negotiations, was designed to address several longstanding issues affecting university lecturers, including salaries, research funding, academic allowances and staff welfare.
One of the key provisions was a 40 per cent increase in academic staff remuneration, effective from January 1, 2026. The Federal Government announced in February that payment of the increase had commenced.
The agreement also introduced the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), intended to support expenses relating to academic publications, conferences, learned societies, internet access and books.
Under the agreement, professors are expected to receive a Professorial Cadre Allowance of N1.74 million yearly, equivalent to N145,000 monthly, while readers are entitled to N840,000 annually or N70,000 monthly.
It further provided for adjustments to Earned Academic Allowances covering postgraduate supervision and other academic responsibilities, alongside measures targeting research, infrastructure and institutional development.
However, ASUU said implementation had not been uniform across universities. The union claimed some institutions had implemented only portions of the salary-related provisions, while others were yet to implement certain aspects of the agreement.
It also expressed concern over the delay in setting up the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which it said was crucial to addressing bureaucratic obstacles that could frustrate the implementation process.
The NEC meeting also reviewed developments concerning academic promotions, appointments and security on university campuses.
ASUU commended the withdrawal of two professorial appointments at the Federal University Lokoja following objections and investigations by the university’s branch.
At the Federal University Wukari, however, the union raised concerns over the elevation of a former registrar to the professorial cadre. It subsequently directed its branches to challenge the promotion of bursars and registrars who do not satisfy the professorial promotion requirements applicable to their institutions.
The union also expressed concern about security threats on university campuses, particularly incidents that have resulted in the deaths of academic staff.
It directed affected branches to report such incidents to the police and other security agencies and compile detailed reports for submission to the national leadership.
The 14-day ultimatum now puts pressure on the Federal Government, state governments and university authorities to resolve the outstanding issues before the dispute develops into another nationwide disruption of academic activities.
