ASUU Strike Gains Momentum, More Varsities Suspend Academic Activities

The ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over delayed salary payments is gathering momentum as more federal universities suspend academic activities, further disrupting Nigeria’s tertiary education calendar.

Lecturers at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi State, joined the industrial action following a directive from the union’s National Executive Council (NEC).

Academic activities at the university have stalled as staff stayed away from lectures in line with instructions communicated through an internal memo circulated by the local branch leadership.

In Abuja, skeletal academic operations were observed at the University of Abuja, with many lecturers absent from campus over the same salary delay concerns.

The situation mirrors developments at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where a large number of lecturers adhered strictly to the NEC resolution, staying off campus pending the payment of their June 2025 salaries.

The University of Jos (UniJos) has also recorded near-total compliance with the strike directive. Lecturers there laid down their tools in protest against the federal government’s delay in disbursing June salaries, citing the standing NEC resolution that mandates branches to down tools if salaries are not paid by the third day of a new month.

A lecturer at UniJos said the union’s local congress had reaffirmed the NEC position, forcing the branch to suspend teaching activities.

“The directive was clear—if our salaries are not paid by the third, we withdraw our services. This is not negotiable,” the source said.

However, not all universities have joined the industrial action. At the Federal University Otuoke, in Bayelsa State, normal academic activities continue as lecturers confirmed receiving their outstanding payments earlier this week.

Stanley Boroh, a senior lecturer at the institution, said, “The strike is a directive and resolution from our last NEC meeting in Benin, but salaries were paid yesterday. I believe many institutions are now getting their payments too”.

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is also yet to suspend classes. Sunday Oloruntola, Dean of the Faculty of Mass Communication at UNILAG, disclosed that lecturers at the institution are not participating in the strike for now.

ASUU National President, Chris Piwuna, had earlier reiterated that the union would strictly implement its no-pay-no-work policy under his leadership, especially for salary delays beyond the agreed timeframe.

The latest strike underscores persistent tensions between Nigeria’s federal government and university academic staff, with salary payment delays remaining a frequent flashpoint.

Despite repeated negotiations and policy pronouncements, unresolved wage disputes continue to disrupt Nigeria’s university system, which already faces challenges around funding shortfalls and infrastructure deficits.

Stakeholders have expressed concerns that prolonged industrial action could worsen the academic backlog created by previous strikes and compound the pressure on students who have yet to fully recover from COVID-19–era learning disruptions.

The federal government has yet to issue a comprehensive response to the fresh wave of industrial action, although some payments were processed earlier this week.

Union leaders have indicated they will sustain the strike until all outstanding salaries are fully cleared and timely disbursement is guaranteed going forward.