The fragile peace between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may soon collapse, as the union has threatened fresh industrial action over what it described as the flawed and partial implementation of the December 2025 agreement reached with the government.
Rising from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Modibbo Adama University, Yola, ASUU accused both federal and state authorities of failing to faithfully implement key aspects of the agreement meant to end years of disputes in the university system.
In a statement signed by the union’s president, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, ASUU said members were deeply worried by the government’s reluctance to resolve lingering issues affecting lecturers across public universities.
The union listed the unresolved matters to include the withheld three-and-half months salaries, promotion arrears, salary shortfalls caused by the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, unremitted third-party deductions, and the arrears of the 25-35 per cent wage award.
Prof. Piwuna warned that the growing frustration among academics could trigger another round of industrial unrest if urgent steps were not taken to address the issues.
He said: “The union appeals to all genuine patriots, well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of Nigeria to prevail on State and Federal governments to fully implement the new Agreement and resolve other outstanding issues in the interest of parents, students and the nation at large.
“Our union’s doors remain open for working with government to realise all our demands. At the same time, NEC directs an emergency meeting of NEC to be called in the next few weeks to review the situation and take appropriate action as may be necessary.”
The latest threat comes barely five months after the Federal Government and ASUU reached what many stakeholders described as a landmark agreement aimed at ending the 16-year crisis surrounding the 2009 pact.
The renegotiated deal, which took effect from January 1, 2026, reportedly included a 40 per cent salary increase for lecturers, improved pension benefits and revamped duty-based Earned Academic Allowances designed to stabilise public universities and reduce incessant strikes.
However, despite the agreement, implementation has remained patchy, with some universities reportedly complying with parts of the deal while the Federal Government is yet to fully implement its own obligations