The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially announced the suspension of its two-week warning strike, following discussions with the federal government.
ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna made the announcement at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday morning. He revealed that the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) met overnight, beginning Tuesday and ending around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday to review developments.
Prof. Piwuna said the decision to suspend the strike takes effect immediately, and the union has given the federal government approximately one month to fully implement its outstanding demands.
Key Points
The strike was originally declared on 13 October 2025, as a two-week warning action, after ASUU said the government had failed to meet longstanding demands.
Among the principal demands: the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, payment of withheld salaries of three and a half months, promotion arrears for lecturers spanning four years, release of third-party deductions (such as union contributions), and revitalisation of public universities.
ASUU indicated that it recognised the government’s “return to the negotiation table” but stressed that much more work remains. The suspension is presented as a gesture of goodwill—not a resolution.
In his statement, Prof. Piwuna warned that if the government fails to deliver within the allotted month, the union will not hesitate to resume the strike “without further notice”.
Outlook / What to watch
Students and parents affected by the academic disruption in public universities across the country will likely breathe a temporary sigh of relief.
The government-union talks are now under close scrutiny: stakeholders will be watching whether real progress is made or if the pause becomes just a brief interlude before further action.
Universities will need to begin plans to resume normal academic activities, though it remains unclear how quickly operations can fully normalise.
The broader education sector will continue to monitor whether the government commits the required funding and fulfilments necessary to secure long-term stability in public university systems.
Bottom Line
While ASUU’s decision to suspend the strike signals a possible thaw in what has been a tense industrial standoff, the pause is conditional—and time-limited. The union is giving the government a window to act; if that window passes without meaningful deliverables, the possibility of further disruption remains very real.
