The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared its intention to commence a two-week warning strike from midnight on Monday, citing persistent government inaction and delays in the renegotiation of its 2009 agreement.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the union said the decision was final and not subject to further deliberation. According to ASUU, the planned warning strike will be followed by a meeting to determine the date for a full-scale, indefinite industrial action if no progress is made during the two-week period.
“The union has already taken a firm position; we are not meeting again to debate it. By midnight on Monday, a two-week warning strike will commence,” the statement read.
ASUU noted that the issues at stake have remained unresolved for over a decade, particularly the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, which covers funding for university revitalisation, earned academic allowances, and improved conditions of service for lecturers.
“This action is not sudden or unjustified; it comes after years of dialogue, unmet promises, and government inaction,” the union said.
The lecturers’ body expressed frustration over what it described as the government’s continued silence and failure to respond to repeated calls for engagement.
“At one point, the government requested three weeks to respond; but to date, nothing has been heard. This repeated pattern of neglect leaves us with no alternative,” ASUU added.
The union emphasised that strikes are not its preferred method of engagement but insisted that industrial action becomes inevitable when other avenues are exhausted.
“ASUU does not delight in strikes. But when all avenues of engagement are exhausted and agreements are ignored, industrial action becomes a last resort. The truth is clear: strike seems to be the only language the government understands,” the statement concluded.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Ministry of Education has not issued an official response.
