The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed 21 universities to commence processes for industrial action over the alleged failure of the Federal Government and state governments to fully implement the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.

National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU at its meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026, directed the affected branches to issue 14-day ultimatums to their respective governments to address outstanding issues or face industrial action.

The development came as ASUU chapters at Imo State University (IMSU) and Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), declared total and indefinite strikes, shutting down academic activities at the institutions.

ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, in a statement issued on the outcome of the meeting, said the union would convene an emergency NEC meeting at the end of August or early September to review developments and take further decisions.

He said the latest action followed what the union described as the “haphazard implementation” of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement and the Federal Government’s alleged delay in releasing the subvention required for its full implementation.

“NEC discussed the state of the struggle and noted that a significant milestone had been reached in signing the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, but frowned at the haphazard implementation and lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government in the release of subvention to fully actualise the implementation of the said 2025 Agreement,” Piwuna said.

The 21 affected universities are Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Gombe State University; Plateau State University, Bokkos; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Abia State University, Uturu; and University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa.

Others are Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo; Kaduna State University; Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Northwest University, Kano; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Imo State University; Niger Delta University; University of Africa, Toru-Orua; Bayelsa Medical University; and Taraba State University, Jalingo.

ASUU said the affected branches would embark on strike after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum if their demands were not addressed. It added that branches in the Sokoto Zone had already issued a two-week ultimatum.

The union also expressed concern over the failure of visitors to some state-owned universities to implement provisions of the agreement, warning that the situation could undermine the gains recorded following the signing of the pact.

The 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement was signed on December 23, 2025, after years of negotiations between the Federal Government and the union.

The agreement was designed to address longstanding issues relating to lecturers’ remuneration, welfare, working conditions, research funding and university autonomy.

Speaking during the unveiling of the agreement, the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, said the pact aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and represented a major step towards lasting industrial harmony in the university system.

The agreement provided for a 40 per cent upward review of academic staff remuneration, effective January 1, 2026, with the Federal Government announcing in February that implementation of the salary increase had commenced.

Also introduced in the pact is the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to cover expenses relating to journal publications, membership of learned societies, conferences, internet access and books.

The agreement further provided for a Professorial Cadre Allowance of N1.74 million annually, or N145,000 monthly, for professors, while readers are entitled to N840,000 annually, equivalent to N70,000 monthly.

It also reviewed Earned Academic Allowances, including payments for postgraduate supervision and other academic responsibilities, while providing for improved welfare, research funding, infrastructure and institutional autonomy.

However, ASUU has continued to raise concerns over the pace and extent of implementation.

In May, the union alleged that some universities were only partially implementing the salary component of the agreement, while others had yet to commence implementation.

ASUU also expressed concern over delays in constituting the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which it said was necessary to ensure compliance and address bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Meanwhile, the ASUU chapters at Imo State University (IMSU) and Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), have already declared indefinite strikes over alleged unpaid entitlements and other unresolved issues.

At IMSU, the union accused the Imo State Government and university management of failing to implement the 2025 agreement, as well as owing salaries and promotion arrears dating back to 2016.

The branch Chairman, Stephen Oguji, and Secretary, Lazarus Chikwendu, announced the decision during a press briefing in Owerri.

The union said the agreement, which was expected to take effect from January 1, 2026, had been implemented in some state-owned universities, including institutions in Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Sokoto states.

It, however, lamented that nearly eight months after the agreement was signed, similar implementation had yet to take place at IMSU.

According to the union, it had repeatedly presented the agreement to the university management, held discussions and issued a 21-day ultimatum without receiving a satisfactory response.

ASUU also protested the continued retention of IMSU under the Treasury Single Account, describing the arrangement as an erosion of university autonomy.

At NSUK, the ASUU chapter declared a total and indefinite strike over alleged unpaid entitlements amounting to more than N3 billion.

The branch Chairman, Dr Zubairu Loko, announced the decision after an emergency meeting of the chapter, saying the action was in line with resolutions reached at the union’s NEC meeting.

He said the outstanding entitlements included Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), consequential adjustment arising from the implementation of the national minimum wage and the Federal Government-approved salary increment for university lecturers.

Loko accused the university management and the Nasarawa State Government of insensitivity to the welfare of academic staff despite several engagements.