The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has authorised 20 universities to begin processes for industrial action over the alleged failure of the Federal Government and state governments to implement the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.

The decision, contained in the resolutions of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026, directs the affected branches to first issue a 14-day ultimatum before proceeding on strike to press home their demands.

A statement signed by ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, late Monday, announced that an emergency NEC meeting would be convened at the end of August or early September 2026 to take further decisions, ‘without prejudice to the decisions taken so far’.

The affected institutions are Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Gombe State University; Plateau State University, Bokkos; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Abia State University, Uturu and University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa.

Others are Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo; Kaduna State University; Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Northwest University Kano; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Imo State University; Niger Delta University; University of Africa, Toru-Orua; Bayelsa Medical University; and Taraba State University, Jalingo.

ASUU said the affected branches would embark on the strike after the expiration of the ultimatum, while noting that branches in the Sokoto Zone had already issued a two-week ultimatum.

The union said the decision was prompted by what it described as the “haphazard implementation” of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement and the “lackadaisical attitude” of the Federal Government towards releasing subvention needed to fully implement the agreement.

“NEC discussed the state of the struggle and noted that a significant milestone had been reached signing the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, but frowned at the haphazard implementation and lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government in the release of subvention to fully actualise the implementation of the said 2025 Agreement,” the statement reads.

It also expressed concern over the failure of visitors to several state-owned universities to implement the agreement, warning that the development was threatening the gains recorded following the signing of the agreement.

The union’s latest move suggests that the much-celebrated agreement, which was expected to bring a measure of stability to Nigeria’s troubled university system, is once again becoming a flashpoint between the lecturers and government.

The Guardian reports that the pact, reached after more than 16 years of negotiations, was aimed at addressing lecturers’ welfare and the chronic underfunding of public universities. The agreement, signed in December 2025, was designed to end the cycle of disputes over conditions of service, remuneration and university funding.

A major provision was a 40 per cent upward review of academic staff remuneration, effective from January 1, 2026, with the Federal Government announcing in February that implementation of the increase had commenced.

At the centre of the accord is the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), which covers expenses relating to journal publications, membership of learned societies, conferences, internet access and books. The pact also introduced a new Professorial Cadre Allowance, with professors entitled to N1.74 million annually, or N145,000 monthly, while readers are to receive N840,000 annually, equivalent to N70,000 monthly.

The agreement further reviewed the Earned Academic Allowances, including payments for postgraduate supervision and other academic responsibilities, while providing for improved welfare and conditions of service.

Beyond remuneration, the agreement was intended to tackle wider challenges confronting Nigeria’s university system, including research, infrastructure, institutional development and staff welfare.

However, implementation has remained the major sticking point. ASUU has, in recent months, repeatedly accused the Federal Government and some state governments of failing to fully implement the pact. In May, the union lamented that some universities were only partially implementing the salary component, while other institutions had allegedly failed to implement it altogether.

ASUU also expressed concern over delays in constituting the Implementation Monitoring Committee, which it said was necessary to prevent bureaucratic delays and ensure compliance with the agreement.

The development raises the prospect of another major disruption in the university system if the outstanding issues are not resolved before the expiration of the two-week ultimatum.

The union’s latest resolution comes amid a series of other concerns raised at the NEC meeting, including controversial academic promotions and appointments. At the Federal University Lokoja, NEC commended the withdrawal of two professorial appointments following resistance and investigation by the branch, while at Federal University Wukari, it expressed concern over the promotion of a former registrar to the professorial cadre.

NEC subsequently mandated ASUU branches to resist the promotion of bursars and registrars who do not meet the professorial promotion criteria of their respective universities.

The union also raised alarm over worsening insecurity on university campuses, particularly incidents that had led to the killing of its members. It directed affected branches to petition the police and other security agencies and compile cases of insecurity for submission to the national leadership.