The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate implementation of a newly approved salary structure for university lecturers, in a move that signals rising labour tension in the education sector.
The warning, delivered by ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, sets the stage for a possible industrial action if the government fails to meet the deadline.
Speaking at a public lecture at Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi, Piwuna said the union expects swift compliance with the agreement reached in December 2025, which was scheduled to take effect from January 2026.
“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the Federal Government to begin the payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he said.
The ASUU leader expressed frustration over what he described as a pattern of unfulfilled agreements by the government, warning that continued delays could once again disrupt academic activities across public universities.
Beyond salary concerns, the union also raised objections to plans for the establishment of a Nigerian campus of Coventry University, following recent engagements between Nigerian officials and the UK-based institution.
Piwuna criticised the move, describing it as detrimental to the growth of local universities and likening it to external dominance in the sector.
He argued that the initiative represents a form of “colonialism” in Nigeria’s education system and warned that it could undermine the relevance of domestic institutions already grappling with funding and infrastructure challenges.
The ASUU president further advised the Federal Government to prioritise strengthening existing universities through collaboration with stakeholders, rather than introducing foreign competitors.
The ultimatum comes amid a series of disputes between ASUU and the government over unpaid entitlements, including salary arrears and issues linked to the transition to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
Earlier in March, the union directed some of its branches to withdraw services over delays in payments, while in late 2025 it issued multiple notices pressing for the renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 agreement with the government.