ASUU gives FG four-day ultimatum to implement new lecturers’ salary structure

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a four-day ultimatum to the federal government to commence implementation of the newly approved salary structure for university lecturers.

Christopher Piwuna, ASUU president, announced the decision on Thursday while speaking at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli campus, in Bauchi State.

He said the countdown begins immediately, warning that the union would take decisive action if the government fails to comply.

“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the federal government to commence payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he said.

Background

In January, ASUU reached a renegotiated agreement with the federal government aimed at resolving recurring strikes in public tertiary institutions.

The deal includes a revised salary structure for lecturers and effectively settles a 16-year deadlock over the controversial 2009 FG-ASUU agreement on lecturers’ welfare.

At the time, Piwuna expressed optimism that the agreement would be implemented without the need for industrial action. However, nearly three months later, there has been little progress.

Last week, the ASUU president revealed that some federal universities were unable to pay full salaries for January, adding that he was unaware of any institution that had paid February salaries.

His remarks followed a brief indefinite strike by ASUU members at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) over unpaid wages, which was later suspended after meetings with the university management.

Piwuna attributed the delays largely to challenges in implementing the new salary structure, particularly the slow passage of the 2026 budget.