Academic activities have been disrupted in several state-owned universities after members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began industrial action over the non-implementation of provisions of the renegotiated 2009 agreement and related arrears.
Lecturers in a range of institutions complied with a national directive to withdraw services. Affected universities include Nasarawa State University; Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; Gombe State University; Plateau State University; Kaduna State University; Kano State University of Science and Technology; Northwest University; Taraba State University; the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology; Emmanuel Alayande University of Education; Abia State University; the University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Imo State University; Niger Delta University; the University of Africa, Toru-Orua; and Bayelsa Medical University.
At Adekunle Ajasin University, branch chairman Prof. Bolu Oshodi said the strike would continue until the state government implements the new salary structure that took effect in January 2026 and pays arrears from that month. He noted that federal universities and some state institutions—including Ekiti State University, Benue State University, Osun State University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and Kwara State University—had already begun implementation.
At Plateau State University, Bokkos, the branch declared a total and indefinite strike over a six-point charter, including the contributory pension scheme, full implementation of the 2025 Federal Government–ASUU agreement, arrears from 1 January 2026, staff quarters, perimeter security and an end to alleged intimidation of union leaders. At Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, members began an indefinite strike after a 14-day ultimatum expired; teaching, examinations, meetings and project supervision have been withdrawn.
The pattern is familiar: a national agreement, uneven implementation across states, and students left without classes until alerts hit lecturers’ accounts. The union defines “immediate” as payment of both the new structure and arrears from January. State governments that have not matched that timetable now face closed campuses until they do.
