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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has approved industrial action in 20 federal and state-owned universities over what it described as the Federal Government's failure to fully implement the December 2025 agreement reached with the union.
The decision was taken at the union's National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026.
ASUU National President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, said the union was dissatisfied with what it termed the "haphazard implementation" of the agreement, warning that another round of industrial unrest could sweep through the nation's universities if urgent steps are not taken.
According to the union, the affected universities have been granted approval to embark on varying degrees of industrial action once they meet their internal union procedures.
The institutions are Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA); Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK); Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL); University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED); Gombe State University (GSU); Plateau State University (PLASU); Emmanuel Alayande University of Education (EAUED), Oyo; Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa; Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu; University of Education and Entrepreneurship (UEE), Akamkpa; Kaduna State University (KASU); Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH), Wudil; Northwest University Kano (NWUK); Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT); Imo State University (IMSU); Niger Delta University (NDU); University of Africa, Toru-Orua (UAT); Bayelsa Medical University (BMU); and Taraba State University (TSU).
ASUU said the implementation status of universities under its Lagos Zone is still being reviewed, adding that separate decisions on those institutions would be announced later.
The union identified inadequate funding of universities and the poor implementation of the 2025 agreement as the major issues fueling the crisis.
It said many federal university vice-chancellors are struggling with insufficient allocations for salaries, while conditions in several state-owned universities are even worse.
According to ASUU, only a few state governments have adopted the salary structure agreed upon in December 2025, while many others have failed to implement it.
The union accused some governors of shifting financial responsibilities to governing councils without providing the funds needed to meet the obligations.
ASUU also blamed officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for delays in the payment of promotion arrears, salary releases and the remittance of pension deductions to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).
It further expressed concern over the outstanding three-and-a-half months' salaries withheld during the 2022 nationwide strike, despite the earlier release of four months' salaries by the Federal Government.
The union also decried delays in the payment of the 25/35 per cent wage award and outstanding promotion arrears owed to its members.
ASUU condemned what it described as the victimisation and harassment of union leaders and members in Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Imo State University (IMSU) and Abia State University (ABSU).
It warned that industrial actions in the affected institutions would not be suspended until all forms of intimidation against its members are brought to an end.
Beyond issues affecting universities, the union expressed concern over the country's worsening economic situation, political violence and insecurity ahead of future elections.
While acknowledging the intervention of the Chairman of the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC), Senator Lanre Tejuoso, ASUU insisted that only the full implementation of the 2025 agreement would avert a nationwide crisis in the university system.
The union said it would convene another emergency NEC meeting in the coming weeks to assess the government's response, warning that failure to address its demands could result in a broader nationwide strike across public universities.
