Barely two months after the Federal Government announced a breakthrough agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) , Nigeria’s public university system is once again facing the threat of disruption.
The union has issued fresh ultimatums and is warning of a nationwide strike raising a recurring concern as to why crisis persist even after agreements are reached.
At the core of the issue lies a long-standing pattern that has shaped relations between ASUU and successive governments. Agreements are often reached after prolonged negotiations, but their implementation has consistently lagged behind commitments.
The January 2026 agreement, initially viewed as a major step forward, now appears to be following this familiar trajectory.
The President of ASUU, Professor Christopher Piwuna, reiterated the union’s position on Thursday while delivering a speech at a public lecture held at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus in Bauchi State.
An agreement on a new salary structure had been reached in December 2025, with implementation scheduled to begin in January 2026.
Delays have prompted renewed pressure from the union.
Piwuna stated that the ultimatum takes immediate effect and urged the Federal Government to commence payments under the approved salary arrangement without delay.
‘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 said.
His comments came days after ASUU members at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) declared an indefinite strike over the non-payment of their full salaries, which was later called off after a series of meetings with the management.
Piwuna said the situation is largely due to practical difficulties surrounding the implementation of a new salary agreement between the union and the federal government, particularly the delay in passage of the 2026 budget.
Tensions escalated further on 11 March 2026, when ASUU directed members in some branches to withdraw their services over delays in the payment of June 2025 salary arrears, as well as challenges associated with the transition to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
Despite government assurances, lecturers have yet to receive the 40% salary increase and other welfare provisions outlined in the renegotiated agreement.
In a recent statement by Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowi Folasade, the Federal Government maintained that implementation is already underway.
According to the statement, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, confirmed that the government had begun implementing a 40% increase in the Consolidated Academic Allowance for ASUU members, effective 1 January 2026.
He directed vice-chancellors to ensure compliance, urging them ‘to make judicious use of available resources to ensure the successful rollout of the allowance’.
He further clarified that ‘the payment has already been captured and circularised by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, and that its inclusion in the 2026 budget is a formal statutory process’.
The statement added, ‘Some federal universities have already begun reflecting the approved increase in their salary payments. To ensure uniform implementation nationwide, all federal universities are being formally notified to fully cascade the approved increment across their institutions and integrate it into their payroll structures so that all eligible academic staff benefit accordingly’.
While the agreement reportedly included salary increases, improved welfare packages, and renewed commitments to funding public universities, ASUU’s concerns now centre on execution rather than content.
The immediate trigger for the current tension is the failure to fully implement the new salary structure. Although the revised pay was expected to take effect from January, many lecturers have either not received the updated salaries or have experienced inconsistent or reduced payments. Variations across institutions have further deepened frustration.
In addition, unresolved arrears and earned allowances remain outstanding. Lecturers are owed payments dating back several months, including portions of previous salaries and workload-related entitlements. For ASUU, these delays reinforce longstanding doubts about the government’s commitment to its promises.
The Federal Government attributes the delays to budgetary and administrative challenges, including the late passage of the 2026 budget and complications arising from payment system transitions.
This explanation has done little to reassure the union. ASUU argues that similar justifications have been offered in the past, often resulting in prolonged delays or partial implementation. Over time, this has created a significant trust deficit between both parties.
Beyond immediate financial concerns, policy disagreements are also contributing to the tension. ASUU has expressed reservations about certain government initiatives, including the expansion of foreign university campuses in Nigeria.
The union views such moves as counterproductive to efforts aimed at strengthening local institutions, particularly at a time when public universities face persistent funding and infrastructure challenges.
