ASUU Threatens Indefinite Shutdown Of Public Universities From Friday

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced plans to shut down all public universities across the country indefinitely from Friday if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands.

ASUU disclosed the move in a terse statement posted on its official X handle on Tuesday, warning that lectures and academic activities would be halted nationwide.

According to the union, the decision is aimed at compelling the government to address long-standing issues bordering on fair remuneration and improved working conditions for lecturers, as well as halting the continuous exodus of academic staff from Nigerian universities.

“All universities will be closed nationwide till further notice on Friday,” the union wrote on X.

The planned industrial action comes on the heels of ASUU’s rejection of the 35 per cent salary proposal put forward by the Federal Government.

The union had described the offer as inadequate and inconsistent with the realities facing university lecturers, insisting that the government must honour earlier agreements and address systemic decay in the tertiary education sector.

In October, ASUU suspended its two-week warning strike after it agreed to return to the negotiation table with the Federal Government over the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and other unresolved issues affecting the university system.

The suspension was expected to create room for meaningful dialogue, but the latest pronouncement suggests that talks have again broken down.

ASUU’s fresh threat raises fears of another prolonged shutdown of public universities, with millions of students potentially forced out of classrooms if the government and the union fail to reach a quick resolution before Friday.