Academic activities across federal universities in Nigeria have been disrupted as branches of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suspend lectures and related duties in protest over the non-payment of June 2025 salaries.
This move follows a prior warning by ASUU National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, who reaffirmed the union’s commitment to a “no pay, no work” policy in response to any delays in salary disbursement by the Federal Government.
As of this week, lecturers in various public universities have not received their June wages, prompting discontent nationwide. The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has also voiced concerns, threatening to embark on a similar strike if salaries are not paid without further delay.
At the University of Jos, ASUU branch chairman Dr. Jurbe Molwus confirmed that members have officially withdrawn their services, in line with a directive from ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC). The NEC had resolved that members should suspend all academic duties if salaries are not paid by the third day of the month—a resolution later endorsed by the local congress.
“Our members have ceased all lecture and statutory academic activities,” Molwus stated. He added that any subsequent delays beyond the third day of the month would trigger automatic withdrawal of services. A strike monitoring committee has been activated to ensure full compliance.
Similar action has been taken at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi, where lecturers have suspended academic operations in response to their branch’s directive. Branch chairman Dr. Angulu Haruna criticized the Federal Government for what he described as a recurring pattern of delayed payments, noting that university staff are routinely paid late compared to other federal employees.
Haruna remarked, “Our salaries often arrive in the first week of the following month, while other civil servants are paid on time. The excuse tied to the transition from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) is wearing thin. This has become a case of systemic discrimination.”
At the University of Abuja, limited academic activity was observed as many lecturers stayed off campus in protest. Meanwhile, a source at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, confirmed that most academic staff there are observing the NEC directive, pending payment of the June salaries.
The standoff between academic unions and the Federal Government continues to cast uncertainty over the academic calendar in Nigerian universities. Both ASUU and ASUP are calling for immediate action and greater transparency in the handling of salary payments, citing repeated delays and unequal treatment of education sector employees.
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