The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned the Federal Government that it may take action if lecturers’ salaries are not fully implemented in line with the 2025 agreement by the end of March.
The President of ASUU, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, gave the warning in an interview with TheCable, saying the union expects full payment of salaries, including all agreed allowances, before the month ends.
Piwuna clarified that the union did not issue a four-day ultimatum as widely reported.
According to him, ASUU only referenced the remaining days in March as a reasonable period for the government to comply with the agreement.
He noted that the union follows laid-down procedures before embarking on any industrial action.
The ASUU president explained that although lecturers had recorded some adjustments in their salaries since January, implementation of the agreement remained incomplete.
He said several components of the agreement had yet to be fully reflected in payments across federal universities.
According to him, the gaps particularly affect lecturers on sabbatical and visiting appointments, many of whom are not paid in full due to funding constraints in host institutions.
Piwuna also disclosed that key elements, such as the Earned Academic Allowances, expected to be integrated into salaries had not been fully paid.
The union is insisting on full compliance with the agreement reached with the Federal Government in December 2025.
The agreement includes a 40 per cent increase in allowances, an improved salary structure, and enhanced welfare provisions for academic staff.
Piwuna also blamed delays in the passage of the national budget for the funding challenges confronting universities.
He accused the government of shifting attention to political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We are tired of waiting… our own interest is the full implementation of the 2025 agreement,” he said.
Beyond salaries, the ASUU president said the agreement also contains provisions for the establishment of a National Research Council, improved education funding benchmarks, and a N30bn stabilisation fund to be disbursed over three years to address financial shortfalls in universities.
However, he lamented that progress on these commitments has remained slow.
According to him, there is little indication that the government is moving decisively to meet agreed targets, including incremental increases in education funding toward 25 per cent of the national budget.
Piwuna warned that ASUU would not hesitate to act if the government fails to implement the agreement fully.
“If the government fails to ensure full payment of salaries and implementation of the agreement by the end of March, the union will respond in line with its established procedures,” he said.
