ASUU Gives FG Four-Day Ultimatum To Implement Lecturers’ Salary Structure

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

The President of ASUU, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, disclosed this on Thursday while delivering a speech at a public lecture held at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus, in Bauchi State.

Piwuna said the ultimatum takes effect from Thursday and warned that the Federal Government must immediately begin payment under the new salary arrangement.

According to him, the salary structure was approved after prolonged negotiations between the union and the government, with implementation expected to begin in January 2026.

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

The ASUU president expressed concern over what he described as the Federal Government’s repeated failure to honour agreements reached with the union.

He said such actions had historically resulted in disputes and industrial actions within the university system.

Piwuna also criticised plans to establish a branch of Coventry University in Nigeria following President Bola Tinubu’s visit to London.

He said the union would resist the move, arguing that it could undermine the development of Nigerian universities.

According to him, the proposed entry of the foreign institution amounts to a form of colonialism within Nigeria’s education sector.

Piwuna added that the Federal Government should instead collaborate with ASUU to strengthen the country’s universities to meet the educational needs of present and future generations.

On March 11, 2026, ASUU directed members in some branches to withdraw their services over delays in the payment of June 2025 salary arrears and challenges related to the transition to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System.

The union had also issued several ultimatums in late 2025, including 14-day and one-month notices, urging the government to conclude the renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement.

Meanwhile, federal civil servants outside the university system also threatened nationwide industrial action on March 25, 2026, over outstanding wage awards, highlighting broader labour tensions in the public sector.