The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike, granting the Federal Government a one-month grace period to conclude all outstanding negotiations on the 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement and other unresolved issues.
ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, announced the decision on Wednesday at a press conference in Abuja following an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC). He explained that the suspension was to allow more room for dialogue and in consideration of appeals from students, parents, and concerned Nigerians.
“The NEC resolved that the warning strike is hereby suspended with immediate effect from midnight, Wednesday, 22 October 2025,” Piwuna said.
He added that the one-month window was intended to create a conducive atmosphere for further engagement between the union and the government.
Although ASUU has not achieved all its objectives, Professor Piwuna noted that significant progress had been made since the strike began. “We have not achieved all our aims, but we are certainly not where we were before the strike commenced,” he stated.
He disclosed that the union met with the Federal Government’s team led by Yayale Ahmed on 16 and 18 October to review the renegotiated 2009 draft agreement. The union also held what he described as “promising engagements” with the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, as well as the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin.
“Our members place high hopes on the assurances given by these distinguished senators, and we look forward to their active involvement in ensuring that all commitments are fulfilled,” Piwuna added.
However, he criticised the Federal Ministry of Education, saying it had “not moved a needle” in addressing the union’s concerns. “If not for the intervention of individuals within and outside the government, we would not have made any progress,” he said.
The ASUU president expressed appreciation to the media, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Nigerian public for their support and understanding during the industrial action. He said suspending the strike was a gesture of goodwill to reciprocate the solidarity shown by Nigerians.
“Consequently, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to reciprocate the overwhelming support of Nigerians,” he said.
Professor Piwuna, however, warned that ASUU would not hesitate to resume the strike if the government failed to meet its obligations within the one-month period.
“Should the government fail to resolve the issues within this window, ASUU reserves the right to resume the strike without further notice,” he warned.
