In January, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) signed a renegotiated agreement with the federal government to address the incessant strikes in public tertiary institutions. This agreement aimed to resolve long-standing issues and end repeated strikes that have plagued Nigeria’s university system.

On March 27, 2026, ASUU president Christopher Piwuna announced a four-day ultimatum to the federal government, demanding the commencement of payments under a newly approved salary structure for university lecturers. Piwuna delivered this ultimatum during a public lecture at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli campus, Bauchi State.

The ultimatum is set to take effect immediately, and Piwuna emphasized that failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union. “We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the federal government to commence payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he stated.

The new salary structure was approved following prolonged negotiations between ASUU and the federal government. This initiative is part of broader efforts to improve the welfare of university lecturers, addressing issues linked to the 2009 agreement between ASUU and the government.

“The union is giving the government four days to commence payment under the new salary arrangement, which was previously approved following prolonged negotiations between both parties,” Piwuna added.

Observers note that if no action is taken within the ultimatum period, ASUU may resort to serious measures that could lead to the shutdown of public universities across the country. Piwuna warned, “If no action is taken within that period, the union will take serious measures that could shut down public universities across the country.”

This development underscores the ongoing tensions between ASUU and the federal government, as both parties strive to navigate the complexities of university funding and lecturer compensation in Nigeria.

Details remain unconfirmed regarding the federal government’s response to the ultimatum, but the situation is being closely monitored by stakeholders in the education sector.

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On March 16, 2026, Christopher Piwuna, a representative of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), addressed the ongoing salary payment issues affecting university lecturers across Nigeria. This situation follows a renegotiated agreement signed by the federal government with ASUU on January 14, 2026, aimed at resolving long-standing payment discrepancies.

Despite the agreement, many federal universities have struggled to pay full salaries for January, leading to significant unrest among ASUU members. Notably, lecturers at the University of Lagos have declared an indefinite strike due to non-payment of full salaries, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

The federal government has yet to release necessary funds to the universities, complicating the implementation of the new salary structure. The Ministry of Education has instructed institutions to utilize their internally generated revenue to cover full salaries, but this has not alleviated the financial strain.

As of now, no university has paid salaries for February, and the implementation of the new salary agreement remains stalled due to the 2026 budget not being passed. Payments made in January and February were based solely on available resources, which were insufficient for full compensation.

Piwuna emphasized that the intention of the government is clear, stating, “The intention of government is clear; it is to implement it in full.” However, he acknowledged the practical difficulties currently faced in executing the agreement.

He also reassured that lecturers on sabbatical should receive full payment under the new agreement, asserting, “We do not expect that anybody on sabbatical will be denied any aspect of this agreement.” This statement reflects ASUU’s commitment to ensuring equitable treatment for all members across federal and state-owned universities.

ASUU has reached out to state governors, urging them to implement the agreement as well. However, the uncertainty surrounding the timeline for the 2026 budget’s passage adds to the complexity of the situation.

Details remain unconfirmed regarding how many universities have fully implemented the new salary structure, leaving many lecturers in a state of uncertainty as they await resolution.

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