The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has directed its branches in 20 universities to prepare for possible industrial action after accusing the Federal Government and some state governments of failing to fully implement the 2025 agreement reached with the union.
The affected universities have been given 14 days to resolve the outstanding issues.
ASUU warned that lecturers in the institutions could begin a strike once the deadline expires if the demands are not addressed.
The decision was reached during the union’s National Executive Council meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026. ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, disclosed the outcome in a statement issued on Monday.
According to the union, an emergency NEC meeting will be held either at the end of August or in the early part of September to assess the response of the government and decide on the next course of action.
The universities affected include 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 its branches in the affected institutions would proceed with the proposed action after the 14-day period if the unresolved matters remain unattended to. Branches within the Sokoto Zone had also issued a similar two-week notice.
The union said the latest dispute was linked to what it described as poor implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement. It also complained about delays in the release of funds needed by the Federal Government to meet its obligations under the agreement.
The 2025 agreement was reached after years of discussions between ASUU and the government and was signed in December 2025. It was designed to address issues involving lecturers’ salaries, allowances, research funding, welfare and the general condition of public universities.
One of the major provisions was a 40 per cent increase in the remuneration of academic staff, which took effect from January 1, 2026. The government announced in February that payment of the increase had started.
The agreement also introduced the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance to support expenses related to academic publications, conferences, internet services, books and membership of professional and learned bodies.
Professors are also entitled to an annual Professorial Cadre Allowance of N1.74 million, while readers are expected to receive N840,000 annually under the agreement.
ASUU, however, said some universities had not fully implemented the provisions. The union alleged that while some institutions had paid parts of the approved salary adjustments, others were yet to implement several aspects of the agreement.
The union also raised concerns about delays in setting up the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which it considers necessary for tracking compliance and dealing with problems that may arise during implementation.
During the NEC meeting, ASUU also examined matters relating to academic promotions and appointments. The union commended the withdrawal of two professorial appointments at the Federal University Lokoja after concerns raised by its local branch.
At the Federal University Wukari, the union expressed concern about the promotion of a former registrar to the professorial level. It directed its branches to challenge the promotion of registrars and bursars who do not satisfy the professorial requirements applicable in their institutions.
Security on university campuses was another issue considered at the meeting. ASUU raised concerns about attacks that had led to the deaths of some of its members and instructed affected branches to report such incidents to the police and other relevant security agencies.
The branches were also asked to prepare detailed reports on security incidents and forward them to the union’s national leadership.
The 14-day deadline now puts pressure on the Federal Government, state governments and the affected university authorities to resolve the outstanding matters before the dispute develops into another nationwide crisis in the university system.