The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate implementation of a newly approved salary structure for university lecturers nationwide.
ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, made the announcement on Thursday during a public lecture at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus, in Bauchi State.
According to Piwuna, the agreement on the revised salary package was reached in December 2025, with implementation scheduled to begin in January 2026. However, the Federal Government has yet to commence payment under the new structure.
“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the Federal Government to begin the payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he warned.
The ASUU president decried what he described as the government’s consistent failure to honour agreements, noting that such lapses have historically triggered disputes and industrial actions within the university system.
Piwuna also criticised plans to establish a Nigerian branch of Coventry University, following President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to London. He argued that the move could undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system, describing it as a form of “educational colonialism.”
He urged the government to prioritise strengthening local universities instead of inviting foreign institutions, especially at a time when domestic institutions face funding and infrastructure challenges.
The development comes amid rising tensions in the education sector. On March 11, 2026, ASUU directed members in some branches to withdraw services over delays in the payment of June 2025 salary arrears and issues linked to the transition to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
The union had earlier issued multiple ultimatums in 2025, including 14-day and one-month notices, pressing the government to conclude the renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement.
Meanwhile, discontent is not limited to the academic sector. Federal civil servants outside ASUU have also threatened a nationwide strike over unpaid wage awards, underscoring broader labour unrest across the public sector.
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2026-03-26