The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government a four-day deadline to commence payment under a newly approved salary structure for university lecturers, warning that failure to act promptly could trigger a strong response from the union.
Union President, Christopher Piwuna, announced the ultimatum during a public lecture delivered at Sa’adu Zungur University.
He said the directive takes effect immediately and expects the government to begin implementing the revised pay framework without further delay.
According to Piwuna, the salary adjustment followed extensive negotiations between the union and federal authorities.
The agreement, he explained, was designed to take effect from January 2026 as part of efforts to improve lecturers’ welfare and stabilise the university system.
“We expect the government to honour the agreement already reached with the union,” he said.
“Implementation should begin immediately, because lecturers have waited long enough for this commitment to translate into real payment.”
Furthermore, the ASUU leader expressed frustration over what he described as a recurring pattern of delayed compliance with agreements signed between the union and government officials.
He warned that such lapses have historically fuelled disputes within Nigeria’s university sector.
“Repeated failure to implement agreements only deepens distrust and disrupts academic stability,” Piwuna said. “Our position is simple: commitments made must be respected.”
In addition, the union criticised the proposed plan to establish a Nigerian branch of Coventry University following the recent trip to London by President Bola Tinubu.
ASUU argued that allowing foreign universities to operate locally could weaken investment in domestic higher education.
Piwuna described the idea as counterproductive, stating that policymakers should focus on strengthening existing Nigerian institutions rather than inviting foreign universities to compete with them.
“Instead of opening the door to external institutions, the government should prioritise revitalising local universities and supporting the academic workforce already serving the country,” he said.
The latest warning from ASUU comes amid lingering tensions between the union and federal authorities.
Earlier in March, the union instructed some branches to suspend academic activities over unpaid salary arrears and administrative difficulties linked to the transition to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System.
Moreover, the dispute forms part of a wider labour challenge across the public sector.
Just days ago, civil servants outside the university system also threatened nationwide industrial action over unresolved wage awards, raising concerns about mounting pressure on the Federal Government to address workers’ welfare.
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