ASUU suspends two-week warning strike after positive talks
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially suspended its two-week warning strike following renewed engagement and negotiation efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The announcement was made on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, by the ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, during a press conference held in Abuja.
According to Piwuna, the decision to suspend the strike was influenced by significant progress in discussions with the Federal Government, along with key interventions from the National Assembly and other stakeholders. ASUU has, however, given the government a one-month ultimatum to resolve all outstanding issues, including the long-delayed renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.
Background to the warning strike
ASUU had declared the warning strike on October 13, 2025, citing the government’s failure to act on repeated demands regarding the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement. This agreement outlines conditions of service, university funding, and welfare provisions for academic staff in Nigeria’s public universities.
Professor Piwuna expressed that the union was left with no other option after the Federal Government continuously failed to respond to several appeals and correspondences. “When we gathered here about 10 days ago to painfully declare a warning strike, it was a decision that left us with no other choice. The government had ignored our repeated overtures to address issues critical to the survival of Nigeria’s public universities,” he stated.
Federal Government re-engages ASUU after strike begins
Following the commencement of the strike, the Federal Government responded by forming a negotiation team led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed. Meetings between this team and ASUU representatives were held on October 16 and 18, where discussions focused primarily on the draft renegotiated agreement and other unresolved concerns.
While these meetings did not conclusively resolve all grievances, ASUU acknowledged that notable progress had been made compared to the state of dialogue before the strike action. “We have not achieved all our objectives, but we are certainly not where we were before the strike began,” Piwuna said, adding that such progress could have been achieved earlier if the government had acted swiftly.
National Assembly plays key mediation role
Professor Piwuna specifically praised the National Assembly for its mediation efforts. He cited the involvement of the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Labour, and the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, whose intervention reportedly created the foundation for renewed hope in the negotiation process.
“These mediators rekindled hope that a lasting resolution can be achieved if the government is sincere and committed,” Piwuna noted.
NEC votes to suspend strike temporarily
ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) convened an emergency meeting from October 21–22, 2025, to review developments. The council concluded that although not all objectives had been met, the warning strike had achieved one of its main purposes—bringing the government back to the negotiation table.
As a result, the strike was officially suspended to create an enabling environment for further negotiations.
One-month window to avoid escalation
Despite the suspension, ASUU has made it clear that the clock is ticking. The union has given the Federal Government a strict one-month deadline to finalize the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement and address other critical issues affecting the nation’s universities.
Failure to meet this deadline, ASUU warns, will result in the resumption of industrial action without any further notice. “The struggle continues,” Piwuna declared, urging Nigerians to hold the government accountable for its promises.
Call for public support and government accountability
ASUU extended appreciation to students, parents, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), media organizations, and other well-meaning Nigerians who have supported the union’s cause. According to Piwuna, their support was instrumental in achieving the current progress and will remain vital in ensuring a lasting resolution.
The union emphasized that it is not seeking conflict but rather fighting for the sustainability and quality of higher education in Nigeria. “We urge patriotic Nigerians to prevail on the government to honour its commitments, to guarantee industrial harmony and ensure stability in the academic calendar,” Piwuna concluded.
As the countdown begins, all eyes are now on the Federal Government to see whether it will meet ASUU’s demands or allow another round of strikes to disrupt academic activities across the nation’s universities.
