Nigeria’s public university system is once again on the brink of paralysis as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) intensifies warnings to the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) over long-standing unmet demands. Between November 17 and 18, 2025, multiple zonal chapters, including Kano, Calabar, Bauchi, Abuja, and Nsukka—reiterated a one-month ultimatum set in late October after suspending a two-week warning strike. The ultimatum expires around November 21, bringing the country dangerously close to an indefinite, “full-blown” nationwide shutdown of public universities.
If the strike is declared, academic activities across 248 federal and state institutions could grind to a halt, affecting over 33,000 university staff and millions of students.
Escalating tensions: How the crisis reached this point
The current standoff follows years of stalled negotiations over the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, which addresses funding, welfare, and university autonomy.
Timeline at a Glance
- October 13, 2025: ASUU begins a two-week warning strike over delays in concluding the 2009 renegotiation.
- October 21, 2025: Strike suspended after appeals from parents, students, and the National Assembly; ASUU issues a one-month ultimatum.
- November 8–9, 2025: ASUU NEC meets in Jalingo; rejects proposed salary increments as inadequate.
- November 15, 2025: Bauchi Zone warns of “imminent crisis” at a briefing in PLASU, Bokkos.
- November 17–18, 2025: Kano, Calabar, Abuja, and Nsukka Zones accuse the government of “delay tactics” and “misrepresentation,” warning that the strike is unavoidable if action is not taken.
What does ASUU want?
ASUU insists its demands are neither new nor excessive but are necessary to prevent further deterioration of Nigeria’s higher education sector. Key demands include:
1. Funding & revitalization
- Release of ₦1.1 trillion for university infrastructure.
- Higher national budget allocation to education (currently 7–8%).
- Extension of the federal moratorium on creating new universities to state governments.
2. Wages & allowances
- Payment of overdue earned academic allowances.
- A 25–35% wage award and competitive salary structure.
- Refund of withheld salaries and deductions.
3. Promotions & arrears
- Full settlement of promotions arrears dating back to 2017.
- Release of 3.5 months of outstanding salaries.
4. Agreement implementation
- Finalization and execution of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
- Protection of academic autonomy and freedom.
5. Welfare & broader reforms
- Improved working conditions to address the accelerating brain drain.
- Recognition of education as a public good requiring massive investment.
ASUU frames the crisis as a matter of national survival, arguing that Nigeria’s rising revenues, ₦3.42T to ₦4.65T (federal) and ₦3.92T to ₦5.81T (state) within two years, show that the issue is not scarcity of funds but misplaced priorities.
Implications of another nationwide strike
If ASUU’s ultimatum expires without resolution, the consequences will be far-reaching:
Academic disruption
- Suspension of lectures, exams, and graduations.
- Extension of academic calendars, similar to the 8-month shutdown in 2022.
Economic and social fallout
- Direct impact on nearly 2 million students.
- Worsening youth unemployment (already over 33%).
- Billions of naira in lost productivity.
Brain-drain crisis
With lecturers earning between ₦100,000 and ₦300,000 monthly, ASUU warns Nigeria is losing over 20,000 academics annually to better-funded systems abroad.
Political and institutional tension
The looming strike mirrors broader unrest in the public sector, including the recent NARD medical workers’ strike.
Government response
The Federal Government maintains that:
- Parts of promotion arrears and third-party deductions have been paid.
- A tripartite negotiation committee is active.
- Broader reforms, such as the NELFUND student loan scheme, demonstrate the administration’s commitment to education.
ASUU rejects these claims, insisting that obligations are being passed off as concessions and that deeper structural issues remain unaddressed.
Public sentiment
Online reactions surged with mixed emotions:
- Sarcastic commentary highlighting contradictions between government pledges and the looming strike.
- Appeals from students and parents urging ASUU not to shut down universities again.
- Criticism of both sides, with users expressing despair over chronic instability in the education sector.
- Viral posts comparing the situation to previous strikes accumulated hundreds of likes, reflecting widespread anxiety.
The prevailing mood is a mix of exhaustion and support, recognition of ASUU’s grievances but fear of the impact of another prolonged shutdown.
What happens next?
With the November 21 ultimatum approaching, all attention is on whether the FGN will open meaningful negotiations. Without intervention, Nigeria appears headed toward yet another major academic crisis, one with profound consequences for its youth, economy, and future workforce.
ASUU leaders have made their stance clear:
“Massive investment in education is the only way to safeguard the nation’s future.”
