By Our Reporter
As of Monday, October 13, 2025, most federal and state-owned universities, including the University of Ibadan, University of Jos, University of Ilorin, and University of Abuja, have stopped academic activities in full compliance with ASUU’s directive. Lecturers and academic staff have stopped work, leading to the suspension of lectures, assessments, and research.
The directive was contained in a circular dated October 13, 2025, signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and copied to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, pro-chancellors of federal universities, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The circular stated that the government was disappointed by ASUU’s decision to continue with the strike after what it described as extensive talks and assurances. It also warned that any violation of labour laws would be addressed and that further disruptions to the academic calendar would not be accepted.
“In line with existing labour regulations, any employee who fails to discharge official duties during a strike period will not be entitled to remuneration for that period,” the circular read. It further directed vice-chancellors to conduct roll calls and physical headcounts of all academic staff, submit attendance reports, and withhold salaries of those absent from duty.
ASUU, however, insists that the industrial action was inevitable. The union’s president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, in a statement on Sunday, said the two-week warning strike was a “necessary response to the government’s persistent neglect and breach of past agreements.”
The union is asking for the completion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement, payment of withheld salaries, more funding for public universities, payment of promotion arrears, and settlement of unpaid salary differences.
Major universities such as the University of Abuja, University of Ilorin, University of Ibadan, Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, University of Jos, and Abia State University in Uturu have already joined the strike, stopping all lectures and official academic activities.
As the situation continues, stakeholders have expressed concerns that a prolonged standoff between ASUU and the Federal Government could affect the nation’s academic calendar, as similar events have impacted Nigeria’s university system in the past.