ASUU Issues Four-Day Ultimatum Over Lecturers’ Salary Implementation

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government a four-day ultimatum to begin implementing the newly approved salary structure for university lecturers across the country.
ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, disclosed this on Thursday during a public lecture at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus, in Bauchi State.
He said the revised salary package was agreed upon in December 2025, with implementation expected to commence in January 2026. However, the government is yet to begin payments under the new structure.
Piwuna warned that failure to comply within the four-day deadline would prompt a strong response from the union.
“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the Federal Government to begin payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response,” he said.
The ASUU president expressed concern over what he described as the government’s persistent failure to honour agreements, noting that such actions have repeatedly triggered disputes and industrial actions within the university system.
He also faulted plans by the Federal Government to establish a Nigerian branch of Coventry University, describing the move as harmful to the development of local institutions. According to him, the initiative could weaken the relevance of Nigerian universities and amounts to a form of educational colonialism.
Piwuna urged the government to instead collaborate with ASUU to strengthen the nation’s university system and improve its capacity to meet present and future educational demands.
The ultimatum comes amid rising tensions in the education sector. Earlier in March 2026, ASUU directed some members to withdraw their services over delays in salary payments and challenges associated with the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
In recent months, the union has issued several warnings, including 14-day and one-month notices, calling for the conclusion of renegotiations and full implementation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement.
The development also reflects broader labour unrest, as federal civil servants outside the university system have threatened nationwide industrial action over unresolved wage-related issues.