ASUU Begins Nationwide Strike Over Unpaid Salaries

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members across Nigeria to commence a nationwide strike over delayed salary payments.

The industrial action, which began on Monday, July 7, follows the federal government’s failure to pay part of lecturers’ June 2025 salaries. Confirming the development, ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, said all branches of the union have been instructed to withdraw their services from universities nationwide.

“This is a response to the government’s refusal to pay our salaries on time,” Piwuna stated. “If the government insists on ‘no work, no pay’, we have resolved to implement ‘no pay, no work.’”

According to ASUU, the delay in salary payments has worsened since the union was removed from the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS). Lecturers reportedly experience delays of up to 10 days before receiving their salaries, which Piwuna described as “paltry.”

“We have agreed at our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that members should stop work if salaries are not paid,” he said. “Our members are going through a lot, and the government has continued to treat us with indifference.”

Already, the University of Jos and the University of Abuja have reportedly complied with the strike directive.

ASUU has long clashed with the federal government over salary structures, funding, and the autonomy of universities. The current strike adds to a history of industrial disputes that have disrupted academic calendars across the country.