The ASUU strike has resurfaced at several state-owned universities across Nigeria, with lecturers taking industrial action over unresolved salary issues, unpaid arrears, welfare concerns and the implementation of agreements reached with governments. The renewed disruptions have affected academic activities at different institutions, although the situation is not currently a nationwide shutdown of all public universities.
The latest developments have drawn attention to the continuing disagreements between ASUU branches and state governments, particularly over the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement and other commitments affecting academic staff.
In Lagos, the union declared an indefinite strike at three state-owned institutions: Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH). The decision followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Lagos State Government on August 31 without an agreement on the union’s demands.
ASUU Strike Affects More State Universities
The situation in Lagos is part of a wider series of disputes involving state-owned universities in different parts of the country, with individual ASUU branches raising concerns over salary structures, outstanding entitlements, funding and the implementation of agreements.
At Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa, the ASUU branch commenced a two-week warning strike from September 15 after its members rejected what they considered an inadequate response from the Jigawa State Government. The union’s concerns include the university’s payroll system, outstanding promotion arrears and funding arrangements, while it has also called for the release of an approved Earned Academic Allowance for 2024/2025.
The Sule Lamido University branch had previously issued a two-week ultimatum to the Jigawa Government over the implementation of a new salary structure, saying its members had continued to receive lower pay despite the approval of the new package.
Other state universities have also experienced industrial action in recent weeks. At Plateau State University, Bokkos, ASUU declared an indefinite strike after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum, with the union citing several unresolved demands, including implementation of the 2025 agreement and payment of outstanding arrears.
Similarly, the ASUU branch at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, declared an indefinite strike in August over the implementation of the 2025 agreement and payment of accrued arrears dating from January 2026.
These developments have increased concerns among students and parents about possible disruptions to academic calendars, particularly where negotiations between university authorities, state governments and ASUU branches remain unresolved.
Nationwide Strike Warning Remains
Although the current disruptions are concentrated at individual institutions, ASUU’s national leadership has separately warned that a wider strike could occur if outstanding issues are not addressed.
Following an emergency National Executive Council meeting on September 5, ASUU said unresolved matters included the implementation of the December 2025 agreement, withheld salaries and deductions from lecturers’ salaries that had allegedly not been remitted. The union warned that continued failure to address the issues could lead to nationwide industrial action.
The warning came shortly after the Federal Government announced the release of funds for the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance to academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for January to August 2026. The government said the payment was being made in line with the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement.
However, ASUU has maintained that several other aspects of the agreement remain unresolved, including issues concerning withheld salaries and third-party deductions.
There have also been instances where negotiations have prevented or ended industrial action. At Kaduna State University, ASUU suspended its indefinite strike on September 18 after the Kaduna State Government approved the implementation and domestication of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement. The implementation is expected to begin with the October 2026 salary, while the university’s governing council and management approved the payment of nine months of accrued arrears covering January to September.
The Kaduna development shows that some disputes can be resolved through negotiations and concrete commitments from the relevant authorities, although other university branches remain involved in separate disputes.
For students, the immediate concern is whether the ongoing negotiations will prevent further interruptions to lectures, examinations and academic calendars. With several state universities already affected and ASUU maintaining its warning over unresolved national issues, attention remains focused on discussions between the union and government authorities as both sides consider the next steps.