The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a two-week warning strike beginning from midnight of Monday, Oct. 13, over unmet demands.

ASUU President, Mr Chris Piwuna, announced this at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja.

Piwuna said the decision followed the Federal Government’s failure to meet the union’s outstanding demands after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum.

According to him, the ultimatum, issued on Sept. 28, was meant to give government time to address lingering issues that had persisted in spite of several negotiations.

“The issues include the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and release of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries.

“Others are revitalisation and sustainable funding of public universities, payment of outstanding 25 per cent salary arrears, and promotion arrears spanning over four years,”he said.

He also listed the release of withheld third-party deductions and an end to the alleged victimisation of lecturers at LASU, KSU, and FUTO as part of the unresolved issues.

Piwuna expressed disappointment that government’s response to the union’s demands had been provocative and inconsistent.

“The documents presented by the government’s renegotiating team were a total departure from the recommendations earlier submitted by the committee led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed,”he said.

He therefore appealed for the understanding of students, parents, and Nigerians, saying the action was to compel government to revitalise and reposition the university system.

“All branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight, Monday, Oct. 13.

“The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive,” he said.

The Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has approved the appointment of Prof. Uduma Uduma as the new Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

The Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of the Governing Council, Malam Isa Yuguda said this while briefing newsmen on Friday after the council’s meeting.

Yuguda said that the appointment would take effect from Feb. 11, 2026 when the tenure of the current VC Prof. Olufemi Peters would expire.

“The Board’s recommendation was considered and approved by the Governing Council

“The University looks forward to Professor Uduma’s leadership and vision as he assumes office on Feb. 11, 2026.

“We are confident that his expertise and experience will drive the university’s continued growth and success going forward,” Yuguda said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uduma is a Professor of Philosophy and Logic, as well as a Barrister-at-Law.

NAN also reports that Uduma was born on Jan. 30, 1966, and obtained his first degree from the University of Calabar after graduating as the best student in his faculty.

He thereafter obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Philosophy from the University of Lagos and was later called to the Nigerian Bar in 2007.

Over the course of his career, he has held several academic and administrative positions, including Head of Department, Director of General Studies, Director of Academic Planning, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the National Open University of Nigeria.

He served as Study Centre Director at Abakaliki, Ebonyi, where he increased student enrolment from 496 to over 2,000.

The newly appointed VC has a strong research visibility as a respected Google Scholar.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to meet its outstanding demands or face a fresh round of industrial action that could again cripple academic activities across Nigeria’s public universities.

In a Strike Bulletin signed by ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, and dated October 5, 2025, the union said the decision followed an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) held on September 29, where members reviewed the outcome of a referendum conducted across university branches.

According to the bulletin, ASUU resolved that if the government fails to take “acceptable and satisfactory steps” to address the lingering issues within the 14-day window, the union would embark on a two-week warning strike immediately after the ultimatum expires.

The union disclosed that it had already communicated its resolutions to the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Education and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), but lamented that one week after, there had been “no meaningful development deserving of any consideration.”

ASUU expressed frustration over what it described as an unjustifiable delay in implementing the renegotiated 2009 Agreement and other key demands, which have kept the academic sector in crisis for over eight years.

“The goal of our current action remains principally to compel Government to sign and implement the renegotiated Agreement document, amongst other demands,” the bulletin stated.

Piwuna urged all ASUU members across campuses to begin full mobilisation in preparation for the possible strike, stressing that no member should be left out of the collective struggle to safeguard their welfare and reposition Nigeria’s university system for global competitiveness.

“The days ahead call for mobilisation of every member of our union to ensure unity of purpose. No one should be left out of the struggle,” the ASUU President declared.

He further emphasised that unity remains the union’s greatest strength, warning that disunity only weakens their cause.

“We are strong when we organise, but weakened when we agonise. Our Union has always acted in solidarity as a collective; this action will not be different,” he said.

ASUU also directed its members to take instructions only from their branch chairpersons, urging them to consult zonal coordinators and attend congress meetings regularly for updates on further developments.