ASUU strike: More branches of the Academic Staff Union of Universities have declared a suspension of services due to salary payment delays.
In a previous interview with The PUNCH, ASUU’s national president, Prof. Chris Piwuna, stated that if the Federal Government fails to pay June 2025 wages on time, the union will impose a no-pay-no-work policy.
So far, professors from various tertiary institutions have not received payment.
In a statement posted on Sunday night, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics threatened to go on strike if the government failed to provide their wages.
This decision, revealed by ASUU President Prof. Chris Piwuna on Monday in Abuja, follows a resolution passed by the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) mandating that members stop working if their wages are not paid within three days of the due date.
According to Prof. Piwuna, ASUU branches at the University of Jos and the University of Abuja have already downed tools in accordance with the mandate.
He emphasized that the move is not a new negotiating technique but rather the implementation of an existing NEC policy known as “No Pay, No Work.”
Piwuna expressed dissatisfaction with the authorities’ disregard for its members’ low incomes. Since the transition from IPPIS to GIFMIS, delays have exacerbated, causing financial hardship for members.
He noted that the union had contacted important government authorities, including the Minister of Education and the Accountant General of the Federation, but received no substantive response.
“What they’re doing is just enforcing a NEC resolution. We agreed at NEC that our members are going through a lot since we transitioned out of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System. Certainly, our wages are delayed for a week, if not ten days, before our members receive the little we receive to assist us in carrying out our tasks effectively.
“Therefore, we agreed that if there is no pay, there will be no work.”
According to the ASUU president, all universities where wages have not been paid are anticipated to join the strike, as agreed upon at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
He highlighted that the strike is the only option to counter what he described as a premeditated attempt by certain government officials, notably those in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, to frustrate university personnel.
He stated that any institution that has not been paid will join the strike because “we are tired of talking about this.”
“We’ve communicated with the appropriate authorities—the minister and the Office of the Accountant General are aware. Everyone involved is aware of what has been going on.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the ASUU leadership stated on Monday that an order had been issued for all branches of the union countrywide to withdraw their services due to the delay in paying its members’ June 2025 salary.
The union highlighted the implementation of the “No Pay, No Work” resolution.
NAN further reports that ASUU branches at two federal universities, the University of Jos and the University of Abuja, have already begun strike action in response to the instruction.
Prof. Chris Piwuna, president of ASUU, confirmed the situation to the media in Abuja, stating that the institutions were just following the resolution of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC).
