ASUU Gives Seven States End-of-July Deadline, Threatens Indefinite Strike in 11 Universities

Thousands of students across 11 state-owned universities could face a fresh disruption of academic activities as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike by the end of July.

The union issued the warning to the governments of Edo, Delta, Ondo, Adamawa, Borno, Taraba and Yobe states over their failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement. According to ASUU, the agreement was signed six months ago, yet the affected states have not complied with key provisions.

The warning was delivered separately by the union’s Benin and Yola zones during press conferences held on Monday.

Why ASUU Is Threatening a Strike

At the centre of the dispute is the non-implementation of the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement. The union said the affected state governments have failed to pay the Consolidated Academic and Technologists Allowance (CATA), other approved allowances and arrears dating back to January 2026.

ASUU argued that while federal universities and several state-owned institutions have implemented the agreement, lecturers in the affected universities continue to wait for their entitlements.

The union maintained that the delay undermines collective bargaining agreements and creates avoidable tensions within the university system.

Benin Zone Begins Mobilisation

Speaking on behalf of the Benin Zone, the Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Monday Igbafen, said branches of the union in the affected institutions had already begun preparations for industrial action.

“ASUU branches in the affected universities had begun mobilising members for a total shutdown of academic activities.”

The universities under the Benin Zone affected by the dispute are:

•  Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
•  Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko
•  Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa
•  Delta State University, Abraka
•  University of Delta, Agbor
•  Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba
•  Southern Delta University, Ozoro

Igbafen noted that the union had exercised patience for months. However, he said the continued delay in implementing the agreement had left lecturers with little confidence that the issue would be resolved without pressure.

Yola Zone Raises Similar Concerns

Meanwhile, the Yola Zone echoed the concerns raised by its Benin counterpart.

The universities involved in the zone include:

• Adamawa State University, Mubi
• Borno State University, Maiduguri
• Taraba State University, Jalingo
• Yobe State University, Damaturu

Yola Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Dani Mamman, said: “The continued failure to implement the agreement and other negotiated allowances had created tension in the affected institutions.”

He further described the situation as unacceptable. “The situation is unfair and a violation of collective bargaining.”

According to Mamman, lecturers are merely demanding benefits already agreed upon through negotiations.

He stressed that members of the union were not asking for special treatment but for the implementation of commitments formally entered into by the relevant authorities.

Governors Urged to Act Before Deadline

ASUU has called on the affected governors to act urgently and prevent another round of industrial unrest in the university sector.

The union demanded the immediate implementation of the 2025 agreement and the payment of all outstanding arrears and allowances.

It warned that failure to act before the end of July would trigger an indefinite strike across the affected institutions.

Should the warning go unheeded, academic calendars could suffer another setback. Thousands of students may also face delays in lectures, examinations and graduation timelines.

For now, the union says the responsibility for avoiding a shutdown rests squarely with the affected state governments.