The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has announced the suspension of its two-week warning strike, following what it described as “promising engagements” with representatives of the Federal Government and the National Assembly.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, disclosed this on Wednesday, after an emergency meeting of the ASUU National Executive Council, NEC, held at the Festus Iyayi National Secretariat Complex, University of Abuja.
Piwuna said the NEC resolved to grant the Federal Government a one-month window to conclude the renegotiation and address other unresolved issues.
He warned, however, that failure to meet the deadline would compel ASUU to resume the suspended strike without further notice.
According to him, the strike, which began on October 13, 2025, was declared after the Federal Government failed to address the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and other issues affecting the welfare of lecturers and the state of Nigerian public universities.
“While noting that much work remains, NEC concluded that the objective of the warning strike has been partly achieved. Hence, the strike has been suspended to allow a conducive atmosphere for further engagement,” he said.
He explained that the decision was taken out of respect for students, parents, the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and other Nigerians who showed solidarity and called for restraint during the industrial action.
The ASUU President confirmed that the union held two rounds of meetings, on October 16 and 18, with the Federal Government team led by Yayale Ahmed, where progress was made on government’s response to the draft renegotiated 2009 agreement.
He also commended the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, and Labour, for their swift intervention, describing their engagements with the union and a follow-up meeting with Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin as “promising.”
“Government has finally returned to the negotiating table, something that was impossible for almost a year. We hope this momentum will be sustained to bring a lasting resolution,” Piwuna said.
“We are reciprocating the understanding and support of Nigerians. But if the government fails to act within one month, ASUU will have no choice but to resume the action,” he warned.
The union urged stakeholders in the education sector and patriotic Nigerians to prevail on the government to use the opportunity to ensure industrial harmony and restore stability to the nation’s academic calendar.
