ABUJA, Nigeria — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has commenced a nationwide strike over the non-payment of its members’ June 2025 salaries, escalating tensions with the federal government over long-standing issues of lecturer welfare and systemic neglect.
The industrial action, already underway in institutions such as the University of Jos and the University of Abuja, follows a directive from ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC), enforcing a resolution that mandates a “No Pay, No Work” stance if salaries are delayed more than three days into a new month.
Confirming the development in Abuja, ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said the decision stems from the repeated hardship experienced by university lecturers due to late salary disbursements.
He blamed the delays on what he described as the “deliberate negligence” of the Office of the Accountant General.
“Our members are experiencing hardship. Salaries are often delayed by a week or more. At NEC, we agreed that if salaries are not paid within three days of a new month, members should withdraw their services,” Prof. Piwuna stated.
The crisis follows the transition of university payrolls from the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) — a change ASUU claims has worsened payment timelines.
Prof. Piwuna dismissed claims that the delay is due to technical challenges, insisting that the problem lies with those administering the platform.
“When funds are eventually released, there are no complaints of underpayment or technical failure. The system works; it’s the handlers who are stalling. We believe this delay is intentional,” he said.
Beyond salary delays, ASUU also raised concerns about the N10 billion balance in Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) still owed by the federal government.
The union said that while N40 billion of the previously promised N50 billion has been disbursed, the remaining amount has remained elusive despite repeated assurances.
“We expect the remaining N10 billion to be paid without further delay to prevent another round of agitation,” Piwuna warned.
ASUU branches at the University of Jos and the University of Abuja have already begun full implementation of the strike directive.
In Jos, ASUU branch chairman Dr. Jurbe Molwus confirmed that academic staff have withdrawn their services in compliance with the NEC’s resolution.
He added that a strike monitoring team has been activated to ensure total enforcement.
“This is not a spontaneous action. It is a calculated response to deliberate injustice,” Molwus said.
At the University of Abuja, lecturers also downed tools on Monday. Although branch chairman Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh was unavailable for comment, university spokesperson Dr. Habib Yakoob declined to speak on the issue, referring inquiries to ASUU officials.
ASUU has repeatedly clashed with the federal government over matters of funding, salaries, and working conditions.
