Abuja, Nigeria – July 7, 2025 – Nigerian tertiary institutions face renewed disruption as multiple branches of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) begin suspending services, with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) also threatening to join the strike over the non-payment of June 2025 salaries.
This development follows an earlier warning from ASUU’s National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, who, in an interview with The PUNCH, stated that the union would invoke its “no-pay-no-work” policy if there was any delay in the payment of June salaries. With salaries now overdue for academics across various tertiary institutions, the unions are making good on their threat.
Confirming the immediate impact, the Chairman of the University of Jos branch of ASUU, Jurbe Molwus, announced the immediate withdrawal of services by his members. Molwus cited a National Executive Council resolution that empowers branches to take action if salaries are not disbursed by the third day of a new month, a position affirmed by the local congress. Consequently, lecturers at the University of Jos have abstained from lectures and all statutory meetings.
Molwus further clarified that this withdrawal of services by lecturers would be continuous each time salaries are not paid by the third day of the month, indicating a sustained disruption unless the issue is resolved promptly.
Adding to the pressure, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) issued a statement on Sunday night, also threatening to embark on an industrial action if the government fails to release their members’ salaries.
The escalating tension highlights a recurrent challenge in Nigeria’s education sector, where funding and timely payment of emoluments often lead to prolonged strikes, adversely affecting academic calendars and student learning. Students and parents alike will be closely watching for government’s response to avert another major shutdown of tertiary education.
