The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced plans to shut down all public universities in Nigeria starting this Friday.
DDM gathered that the union’s decision is intended to pressure the Federal Government into meeting long-standing demands, including fair salaries and improved working conditions for academic staff.
The announcement was made via ASUU’s official X account on Tuesday.
The union warned that all universities will remain closed indefinitely until its demands are fully addressed.
ASUU’s leadership cited the ongoing exodus of lecturers from Nigerian universities as a major concern.
They argued that without adequate remuneration and enhanced work conditions, the brain drain will continue to weaken the quality of education nationwide.
The union specifically rejected the Federal Government’s latest salary offer of 35 percent.
The offer had been made as part of ongoing negotiations between ASUU and government officials to resolve the recurring disputes affecting the higher education sector.
In October, ASUU temporarily suspended a two-week warning strike to allow for renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.
The agreement governs lecturer salaries, research funding, and other benefits critical to university operations.
Despite this temporary reprieve, union leaders said the government had failed to implement meaningful changes.
Analysts warn that a full-scale strike could disrupt academic calendars, delay graduations, and negatively impact thousands of students across the country.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has not yet released an official statement regarding the strike or possible contingency plans.
Parents and student groups have expressed frustration over the recurrent interruptions in academic schedules caused by ASUU strikes.
Education experts note that Nigeria has experienced frequent university closures due to labor disputes since the 1990s, resulting in prolonged delays for graduates entering the workforce.
The Federal Government is under pressure to find a lasting solution to the dispute, with stakeholders calling for immediate dialogue and enforcement of previous agreements.
Observers say the strike highlights broader challenges in the Nigerian education sector, including underfunding, poor infrastructure, and low morale among academic staff.
Many fear that without swift government action, the strike could escalate, affecting research output and Nigeria’s position in global academic rankings.
ASUU has urged lecturers to prepare for nationwide shutdown procedures beginning Friday if satisfactory negotiations are not concluded.
Students, parents, and educational institutions now await the government’s response as tensions rise over the future of Nigerian universities.