Fresh ASUU strikes have resurfaced at several state-owned universities across Nigeria, disrupting academic activities and raising renewed concerns over the stability of the country’s public university system.
The latest industrial disputes are largely linked to the failure of some state governments to fully implement provisions of the December 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement, particularly issues relating to lecturers’ salaries, allowances and welfare.
In Lagos, ASUU declared an indefinite strike across Lagos State University, Lagos State University of Education and Lagos State University of Science and Technology after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the state government without a satisfactory resolution.
The union said its principal demand was the full domestication and implementation of the 2025 agreement across the three institutions, alongside the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and other welfare provisions.
The situation is not limited to Lagos. ASUU chapters at universities in Ondo, Plateau and other states have also raised similar concerns, while the union has warned that unresolved disputes could trigger further industrial action in the state university system.
The renewed strikes have revived concerns about the repeated disruption of academic calendars in public universities. Students are once again facing uncertainty over lectures, examinations and graduation schedules whenever negotiations between university unions and state authorities break down.
The December 2025 agreement was reached after years of negotiations between the Federal Government and ASUU. Among its provisions was a 40 per cent salary review for academic staff and the introduction of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, intended to support academic and research-related activities.
While the Federal Government has begun implementing parts of the agreement for federal institutions, the pace of implementation has varied among state-owned universities.
Some state governments have taken steps to prevent disputes from escalating. In Gombe, for instance, the government approved an additional ₦148.76 million monthly subvention for Gombe State University to facilitate implementation of the new academic allowance and address staff welfare concerns.
Similarly, the Kebbi State Government released ₦172.15 million to settle outstanding academic and non-teaching staff allowances at Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero, after the institution faced an ASUU strike threat.
These developments have strengthened calls for state governments to address university funding and staff welfare issues before they develop into prolonged industrial disputes.
Beyond the immediate disagreements over salaries and allowances, the recurring strikes point to wider questions about how state-owned universities are financed, managed and sustained.
State governments are the proprietors of the affected institutions and therefore have a significant responsibility for ensuring that universities have the resources required to maintain academic standards, pay staff and provide adequate infrastructure.
