The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members across the country to withdraw their services following the delay in the payment of June 2025 salaries. The action comes as part of the union’s enforcement of its “No Pay, No Work” resolution, approved by its National Executive Council (NEC).
ASUU branches at the University of Jos and the University of Abuja have already complied with the directive, with lecturers halting lectures and official duties.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, confirmed the development on Monday in Abuja. He explained that the union had earlier agreed that if salaries were delayed beyond three days into a new month, members would suspend work until payments were made.
Prof. Piwuna criticized the persistent delays and blamed government officials, particularly in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, for what he described as deliberate sabotage. He noted that the shift from IPPIS to GIFMIS has brought significant hardship to lecturers, leading to frequent salary delays.
“We’ve engaged the Minister of Education and the Accountant General, but nothing has changed. Our members go through a lot, and the salary—small as it is—often comes late. So, we’re left with no choice but to implement our NEC decision: no pay, no work,” he stated.
He emphasized that any university yet to receive June salaries must join the strike, warning that the union was done issuing verbal complaints. “Everyone concerned has been informed. We’ve held meetings, voiced our displeasure, but there’s been no concrete response,” he added.
The ASUU President stressed that the payment platform itself is not the issue, as lecturers are eventually paid without discrepancies once funds are released. He insisted that the delay is a result of bureaucratic inaction.
In addition to salary concerns, Piwuna warned the government to release the outstanding ₦10 billion balance of the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) promptly. Out of the ₦50 billion owed to lecturers, only ₦40 billion has been paid so far. He expressed hope that the remaining amount would be disbursed without triggering another industrial dispute.
At the University of Jos, ASUU branch chairman Jurbe Molwus confirmed that members had withdrawn from all academic and statutory duties. He said the branch was simply executing the NEC directive, which mandates strike action if salaries are not paid by the third day of a new month.
Molwus noted that a strike monitoring team had been activated to ensure full compliance.
At the University of Abuja, the Tribune gathered that lecturers also downed tools on Monday. However, the local ASUU chairman, Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, did not respond to calls for confirmation. The university’s spokesperson, Dr. Habib Yakoob, declined to comment, advising inquiries be directed to the union leadership.
ASUU insists that the strike will continue until all affected universities receive their June 2025 salaries.
