Academic activities stopped in public universities across Nigeria on Monday as members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began a two-week warning strike. The action came after the union’s deadline to the Federal Government expired over unresolved issues about lecturers’ pay, funding, and the 2009 ASUU-FG Agreement.

The strike followed failed talks between ASUU and the Federal Government, despite assurances from Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who said ₦50 billion had been released for allowances and ₦150 billion budgeted for university upgrades.

However, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said the government’s proposal ignored key issues. He noted that ASUU wants the 2009 agreement concluded, withheld salaries paid, outstanding deductions cleared, and more funds provided for universities.

Reports confirmed full compliance nationwide, with empty lecture halls and disrupted exams in universities like UNN, UNIBEN, UNIJOS, and BSU, while ASUU officials enforced the strike at Nasarawa State University.

Students lamented that the strike disrupted their studies and delayed graduation plans. Meanwhile, ASUU President Prof. Piwuna said the union remains open to dialogue with the Federal Government to resolve the crisis. He disclosed that the government’s negotiation team, led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, had reached out to resume talks.

However, the Federal Government has ordered vice-chancellors to apply the ‘No Work, No Pay’ rule, directing them to stop paying salaries to lecturers taking part in the strike.

As the two-week strike begins, it’s unclear whether new talks will resolve the issues or cause another long closure of public universities.