By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has commenced the mobilisation of its members across all the universities in the country for industrial action after one week of issuing ultimatum to the federal government of Nigeria.
According to a letter sent to all branches of the union on Monday by Professor Christopher Piwuna, ASUU President, he stated it had no choice but to shut down universities through strike action in response to the government’s conduct.
He said, “The National Executive Council (NEC) of our Union, at its emergency meeting of 29th September, 2025, having evaluated the results of the referendum held across our branches, resolved to give government a fourteen-day ultimatum to resolve the issues contained in the negotiated document which has been transmitted to government since February, 2025.
“It was further resolved that the union will proceed on a two-week warning strike at the expiration of the ultimatum if the government fails to take acceptable and satisfactory steps to address the lingering issues.
“The resolutions were immediately communicated to the Honourable Minister of Labour, the Honourable Minister of Education and the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“It is now one week since those resolutions were reached and communicated to the appropriate authorities. I regret to inform you that there is no meaningful development deserving of any consideration to be reported.
“As we enter the second and final week of the ultimatum, | thank you on behalf of NEC for the patience and understanding which you demonstrated since the commencement of this tortuous negotiation that has unjustifiably last over eight years.
“The goal of our current action remains principally to compel Government to sign and implement the renegotiated agreement document, amongst other demands.
“The days ahead call for mobilization of every member of our union to ensure unity of purpose. No one should be left out of the struggle to our welfare, stem the Jupa syndrome and reposition the Nigeria University System (NUS) for global competitiveness.
“We are strong when we organise, but weakened when we agonise! Our Union has always acted in solidarity as a collective; this action will not be different.
“Members are to take instructions only from their Chairpersons. When in doubt, members should consult their Chairpersons, Zonal Coordinators and attend Congress meetings regularly for updates on further developments.”
