The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the suspension of its two-week warning strike, offering the Federal Government a one-month period to finalise negotiations on the long-standing 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and address other critical issues within Nigeria’s university system.
This decision was made public by ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Piwuna explained that the suspension followed productive discussions with the Federal Government and intervention efforts from the National Assembly.
ASUU had initiated the warning strike on October 13, 2025, following the government’s continued failure to meet the union’s demands for renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, which had been left unresolved for years. The strike, according to Piwuna, was the result of “the government’s repeated disregard for our appeals to address crucial issues that are vital to the survival of Nigeria’s public universities.”
“The warning strike was not a decision we took lightly,” Piwuna said. “But after months of unaddressed concerns and failed negotiations, we had no other choice. The government’s response—or lack thereof—had left us with no options but to take this drastic step.”
However, Piwuna noted that the Federal Government, led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, re-engaged with ASUU in meetings held on October 16 and 18. These discussions focused on the government’s response to a renegotiated agreement proposed by the union. Although the meetings did not resolve all outstanding issues, significant progress was made compared to the situation before the strike, Piwuna stated.
“We are not yet where we need to be, but we are in a better place than before,” Piwuna continued. “Had the government acted sooner, the strike would have been avoidable.”
The ASUU President also praised the efforts of the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, as well as the intervention of Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, whose mediation, according to Piwuna, had been instrumental in creating an atmosphere conducive to further negotiations.
After reviewing the situation in an emergency meeting on October 21 and 22, 2025, the ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) concluded that the warning strike had partially achieved its objectives. The union’s leadership decided to suspend the strike, allowing a more conducive environment for further engagement with the government.
“While there’s still much work to be done, we are suspending the strike for now, in recognition of the efforts of students, parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and other Nigerians who have supported us in our struggle,” Piwuna announced.
However, ASUU has made it clear that the suspension is not indefinite. If the government fails to resolve the remaining issues within the next month, the union will not hesitate to resume its industrial action without further warning.
“The struggle continues,” Piwuna declared. “We are urging Nigerians to hold the government accountable for its promises, as the future of our public universities and the academic calendar hangs in the balance.”
