The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the suspension of its two-week warning strike across federal universities, today, Wednesday 22nd of October, 2025, while granting the Federal Government of Nigeria a one-month ultimatum to resolve its outstanding demands.
ASUU, in a press briefing by its National President, Chris Piwuna, stated that the decision follows a marathon overnight meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC), which ended at 4:00 am on Wednesday, 22nd October 2025.
The union had originally issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on 28 September 2025, demanding full implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement (as renegotiated), payment of withheld salaries and allowances, revitalisation of public universities, and an end to victimisation of academic staff.
With no satisfactory action by the deadline, ASUU declared a “total and comprehensive” two-week warning strike starting 13 October 2025.
According to Piwuna, the suspension of the strike was in recognition of “useful engagements” between the government’s negotiation team and the union, but with the caveat that “a lot more work is still required”. He explained that although progress has been made in some areas, ASUU is not yet satisfied that its key demands will be met without further pressure.
In granting the one-month window, ASUU signalled its intention to monitor the government’s response closely. Should the government fail to meaningfully implement the outstanding items, the union warned it could resume industrial action beyond a warning status.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its weight behind ASUU’s stance, giving the government a four‐week ultimatum to conclude negotiations with ASUU and other tertiary institution-based unions, or face a nationwide strike threat.
