The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has authorised 20 universities to begin processes that could lead to strikes over what it described as the poor implementation of the 2025 agreement reached with the Federal Government.
The affected ASUU branches were directed by the union at its National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026.to issue a 14-day ultimatums to their university authorities and governments before commencing strike action.
In a statement signed by ASUU President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, the union said its national leadership would convene an emergency NEC meeting at the end of August or early September to determine its next steps.
The 20 universities affected are 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.
ASUU said branches in the Sokoto Zone had already issued two-week ultimatums, while the other affected branches were expected to follow the same process before taking industrial action.
Uneven Implementation of 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement
The union blamed the latest escalation on what it called the “haphazard implementation” of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement and the Federal Government’s failure to release sufficient subvention to enable the agreement to be fully implemented.
ASUU said the agreement represented a major milestone after years of negotiations but accused the government of failing to follow through on its commitments. It also accused visitors to some state-owned universities of failing to implement provisions of the agreement, warning that this was undermining the gains expected from the deal.
The 2025 agreement was signed in December 2025 after more than 16 years of negotiations. It was intended to address recurring disputes over university funding, lecturers’ remuneration, conditions of service and welfare.
Among its major provisions was a 40% increase in academic staff remuneration, effective from January 1, 2026. The Federal Government announced in February that implementation of the increase had begun.
The agreement also introduced the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, or CATA, covering expenses such as journal publications, membership of learned societies, conferences, internet access and books.
Under the agreement, professors were to receive a Professorial Cadre Allowance of N1.74 million annually, equivalent to N145,000 monthly, while readers were entitled to N840,000 annually, or N70,000 monthly. The pact also reviewed Earned Academic Allowances covering postgraduate supervision and other academic responsibilities.
ASUU however said some universities had only partially implemented the salary component, while others had allegedly failed to implement it. The union also complained about delays in constituting the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which it considers necessary to ensure compliance with the agreement.
