In a move that has sent ripples across Nigeria’s academic landscape, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially commenced a nationwide strike over the non-payment of June 2025 salaries.
The strike, which began on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, follows ASUU’s long-standing “No Pay, No Work” resolution. According to ASUU President Prof. Chris Piwuna, the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) had agreed that if salaries are delayed beyond the third day of any month, members are to withdraw their services until payment is made2.
Already, branches at the University of Jos, University of Abuja, and several others have downed tools, suspending lectures, meetings, and academic activities. The union blames the delays on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), which replaced the former IPPIS platform, citing persistent bottlenecks and alleged negligence by the Office of the Accountant General.
“The system is functional. The problem is that those responsible for making it work are simply not doing their jobs,” Prof. Piwuna said.
ASUU also raised concerns over the ₦10 billion balance of the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), which remains unpaid out of the ₦50 billion approved by the federal government.
As the strike gains momentum, students across federal universities are once again caught in the crossfire, with academic calendars hanging in the balance. The union insists the action will continue until all outstanding salaries are paid and the EAA fully disbursed.
