Tension In Campuses As ASUU Mobilises For Nationwide Shutdown

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has intensified preparations for its planned nationwide strike by mobilising members across various institutions. According to Ireporter Online, this move comes as the Federal Government maintains silence despite being duly notified of the union’s decision to embark on industrial action.

ASUU had earlier announced that all public universities would be shut down starting from September 28, 2025, with a two-week warning strike. The action, the union noted, would escalate into an indefinite strike should the government fail to address its grievances.

In a fresh letter dated October 5, 2025, and signed by the union’s president, Prof. Chris Piwuna, ASUU reiterated its determination to proceed with the strike, citing the government’s lack of meaningful engagement. He explained that the National Executive Council (NEC) had, after an emergency meeting on September 29, resolved to issue a 14-day ultimatum to the government to implement the renegotiated agreement submitted since February 2025.

Piwuna emphasised that the ultimatum was communicated to the Ministers of Labour and Education as well as the Nigeria Labour Congress, yet no significant progress had been made. He noted that ASUU’s primary demand is for the government to sign and implement the renegotiated agreement while addressing other pending issues affecting the university system.

The union leader further urged members to remain united, organised, and steadfast in the struggle, warning that only solidarity would strengthen their cause. He called on members to take directives solely from their local chairpersons and zonal coordinators while staying updated through congress meetings.

According to ASUU, the planned action is not just about welfare but also about repositioning Nigeria’s university system for global relevance, after what it described as more than eight years of unjustifiably prolonged negotiations with the government.