ASUU Issues Four-Day Ultimatum to FG Over New Salary Structure

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to begin the implementation of a newly approved salary structure for university lecturers, raising fresh concerns over a possible industrial action in the education sector.

The directive was announced by the union’s president, Christopher Piwuna, during a public lecture at Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi State, on Thursday.

Piwuna said the ultimatum takes immediate effect, warning that the government must act within the stipulated timeframe or face consequences.

“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the Federal Government to begin the payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he said.

The ASUU president noted that the salary agreement, reached in December 2025 after prolonged negotiations, was expected to take effect from January 2026 but has yet to be implemented.

He expressed frustration over what he described as the Federal Government’s consistent failure to honour agreements with the union, a situation he said has contributed to recurring disputes and strikes in the university system.

Piwuna also linked the development to broader concerns within the education sector, noting that unresolved issues around remuneration and welfare continue to undermine stability in Nigerian universities.

Beyond the salary dispute, the ASUU leader criticised the proposed establishment of a foreign university campus in Nigeria, warning that such a move could weaken local institutions.

According to him, the plan “would further erode the value and relevance of Nigerian universities,” adding that the union would resist any policy perceived to undermine the country’s higher education system.

The ultimatum comes amid heightened labour tensions, following recent directives by the union for some branches to withdraw services over unpaid salary arrears and related concerns.

Observers say the latest warning signals a potential escalation in the long-standing standoff between ASUU and the Federal Government if the demands are not met within the stipulated timeframe.