The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government a four-day ultimatum to implement the newly approved salary structure for university lecturers nationwide.
ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, made this known on Thursday during a public lecture at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus, in Bauchi State.
According to him, the agreement on the revised salary package was reached in December 2025, with implementation expected to begin in January 2026. However, the government has yet to commence payments under the new structure.
Piwuna warned that failure to act within the four-day window would trigger a strong response from the union.
> “We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the Federal Government to begin payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response,” he said.
The ASUU president expressed concern over the government’s repeated failure to honour agreements, noting that this pattern has consistently led to disputes and industrial actions within the university system.
He also criticised the Federal Government’s plan to establish a Nigerian branch of Coventry University, describing the move as detrimental to the growth of local institutions. Piwuna argued that such a development could undermine the relevance of Nigerian universities and likened it to a form of educational colonialism.
Instead, he urged the government to partner with ASUU to strengthen the country’s university system and improve its capacity to meet current and future educational needs.
The ultimatum comes amid ongoing tensions in the education sector. Earlier in March 2026, ASUU directed some of its members to withdraw their services over delays in salary payments and challenges linked to the transition to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
In recent months, the union has issued multiple warnings, including 14-day and one-month notices, calling on the government to conclude the renegotiation and full implementation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement.
The situation reflects broader labour unrest, as federal civil servants outside the university system have also threatened nationwide industrial action over unresolved wage-related issues.
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