An indefinite strike across Nigeria’s public universities is set to begin on Friday, November 21, 2025, after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared that the federal government failed to meet previously negotiated obligations. The action follows the expiration of a one-month window the union granted authorities to resolve lingering disputes.
ASUU announced the shutdown in a statement posted on its official X account on Tuesday, warning that all public universities will close nationwide unless the government presents concrete commitments. The union said unresolved issues include fair remuneration for lecturers and improved working conditions necessary to curb the continuous outflow of academic professionals from the country.
The union described the government’s latest offer—a proposed 35 percent salary increase—as inadequate. It also accused federal authorities of selectively implementing components of existing agreements, particularly those relating to the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement that has shaped years of negotiations between the two parties.
This escalation comes after ASUU suspended a two-week warning strike in October to allow fresh dialogue on salary structures, university funding, and welfare-related concerns. Despite these negotiations, tensions have risen, with the union insisting that the government has not demonstrated the political will to effect meaningful reforms across the higher-education sector.
If implemented, the strike will disrupt academic calendars across federal and state universities, affecting millions of students and potentially prolonging academic sessions already characterized by past industrial actions. Education analysts warn that repeated disruptions continue to weaken the credibility of Nigerian degrees and drive increasing numbers of students and lecturers toward international institutions.
The shutdown also risks deepening existing infrastructural and staffing gaps across the sector. ASUU maintains that sustained underfunding has significantly undermined research output, laboratory capacity, and the overall competitiveness of Nigerian universities within global rankings.
Government officials have yet to issue a formal response to the latest ultimatum. However, policy observers argue that resolving the crisis will require a coordinated federal approach, including transparent timelines for funding disbursements and a structured framework for university reforms.
As the Friday deadline approaches, stakeholders—ranging from student unions to university management boards—are urging both sides to resume negotiations. The outcome may influence broader policy debates on education financing and public-sector compensation, shaping future strategies for stabilising Nigeria’s higher-education system.
