The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has warned that it may return to strike soon.
The union says the Federal Government has failed to meet key agreements and accused the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa, of trying to mislead Nigerians about the situation.
Speaking through its University of Jos branch on Tuesday, the union said the Minister has been making “misleading statements” instead of settling issues affecting lecturers.
ASUU reminded the public that it gave the government a four-week notice on October 22, 2025, to clear outstanding demands. But halfway into the ultimatum, the union says “not much progress has been recorded.”
The statement, signed by the branch chairperson, Prof. Jurbe Joseph Molwus, noted that staff are still waiting for unpaid salaries, wage award arrears, and other entitlements.
“As we mobilise for our National Executive Council ,NEC meeting scheduled for November 8–9, we expect that outstanding entitlements such as the 3.5 months withheld salaries, 25/35 per cent wage award arrears, promotion arrears, and unpaid salaries of some members would have been paid by now. But all we get are press releases from the Honourable Minister of Education. What we need are credit alerts, not misleading statements,” the statement read.
ASUU also insisted that the N50 billion revitalisation fund the government announced has not reached any institution.
The union dismissed the Minister’s claim that ₦2.3 billion was released to settle salary and promotion arrears in federal universities, branding the remark “false and embarrassing.” It argued that such amount “could barely serve three universities,” adding that the Minister must explain who actually received the funds.
It further criticised Dr. Alausa for what it termed “inconsistent and contradictory statements,” urging him to genuinely engage stakeholders and stop issuing “empty rhetoric.”
ASUU also questioned the role of the Minister of State for Education, saying she should understand university issues better and show more commitment.
The union called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and appoint someone with deeper knowledge of the university system if he truly intends to end years of industrial disputes.
“If President Tinubu truly desires to make history by ending the long-standing dispute with university unions, he needs to appoint someone who understands the issues bedevilling higher education,” the union said.
ASUU appealed to students, parents and Nigerians to pressure government to act before the ultimatum expires on November 21, 2025.
It stressed that the last strike was paused in good faith and warned that it would not hesitate to shut down universities again if promises are not fulfilled.
