The Academic Staff Union of Universities in the Owerri Zone has warned that it may resume a full industrial strike on 21 November 2025 if the Federal Government does not act on its unresolved commitments to university lecturers.
The zone, which covers COOU Igbariam, FUTO, IMSU, MOUAU and NAU Awka, issued the warning in a statement signed by its coordinator, Professor Dennis Aribodor. He addressed reporters at a press briefing held at the ASUU–Unizik secretariat in Awka on Thursday.
Aribodor said the briefing was intended to alert stakeholders that the timeframe for avoiding another nationwide shutdown of public universities is closing fast. He recalled that ASUU suspended its two-week warning strike on 22 October 2025, five days ahead of schedule, to give the government a one-month window to resolve outstanding issues. With only a few days left, he said there has been little meaningful progress.
“This press conference was necessitated by the need to alert all critical stakeholders in the Nigerian university system and, indeed, the general public, that time is running out to prevent full-scale industrial action in our public universities.
“Please recall that ASUU, out of respect for students, parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and other well-meaning Nigerians, reviewed the then ongoing two-week warning strike, declared on 13 October 2025, and resolved to suspend the strike action on 22 October 2025, five days before the expiration of the two-week period. The union gave a one-month window to government to resolve all issues. Eight days to the end of this one-month window, where are we?,” the statement reads.
According to him, the government has continued to treat education as a commercial venture rather than a social responsibility that underpins stability and development. He noted that the zone had reviewed the ongoing renegotiation process and rejected the salary proposal presented by government officials, calling it inadequate and dismissive of the conditions under which academics work.
He said the proposal fails to address the long-running brain drain affecting universities and does not provide the motivation needed to retain qualified staff. He also criticised what he described as government’s attempts to manipulate public perception by highlighting selective payments such as partial promotion arrears and the release of third-party deductions. These actions, he said, are minor measures and do not address the root issues at the heart of the negotiations.
Aribodor urged the government to use the remaining days in the negotiation window to engage in a comprehensive settlement, especially on improving lecturers’ wages. He argued that both federal and state revenues have grown significantly, citing FAAC figures showing drastic increases between 2022 and 2024. The real problem, he said, is a lack of political will.
He stressed that it is unacceptable for lecturers to remain on the same salary structure for 16 years despite inflation and currency depreciation. He called on traditional and religious leaders, students, labour unions, the media and civil society groups to pressure the government to meet its obligations.
The zone is demanding full payment of outstanding entitlements, including the 25–35 percent wage award, three and a half months of withheld salaries, outstanding promotions and third-party deductions. These, Aribodor said, are the minimum requirements to prevent the suspended strike from resuming and to maintain stability across Nigeria’s public universities.
