The two-week warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) across public universities has entered its second day.
At the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, academic activities were completely grounded on Monday as lecturers fully complied with the directive. The ASUU branch chairman, Engr. Olujimi Dada, confirmed this in a phone interview with ogbomosoinsightonline.com, stating, “There is total compliance in LAUTECH. No academic activity is holding; we are fully off duty.”ASUU had announced the commencement of the two-week warning strike at midnight on Sunday, following the Federal Government’s alleged failure to address the union’s long-standing demands.
National President of ASUU, Professor Chris Piwuna, disclosed during a press briefing in Abuja that the government’s inaction after a 14-day ultimatum forced the union to embark on the industrial action.He warned that if the government continues to ignore the issues after the two weeks, the union would proceed with a total and indefinite strike.
According to Piwuna, the strike aims to draw public attention to the Federal Government’s refusal to honour past agreements and address critical challenges confronting Nigerian universities.
“It’s unfortunate that nothing meaningful has been achieved since our last briefing on the eight contentious issues,” he lamented.The unresolved matters include the signing of the renegotiated 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement, payment of withheld salaries for three and a half months, proper funding and revitalisation of public universities, and an end to the victimisation of lecturers in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University), and FUTO.Other issues are the settlement of outstanding salary arrears of 25–35 per cent, payment of promotion arrears spanning over four years, and the release of withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union dues.
Piwuna noted that despite repeated appeals and promises from government officials, including a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education dated September 30, 2025, no tangible progress had been made.
He described the October 10 meeting of the FGN/ASUU 2009 Agreement Renegotiation Committee as disappointing, saying the documents presented by the government were “provocative, inconsistent with earlier drafts, and far from the Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated agreement.”
“The documents were hastily prepared and lack the spirit of genuine commitment to resolving the issues,” Piwuna said, accusing the government of employing delay tactics and acting in bad faith.
He warned that ASUU would not continue to be deceived by “empty promises,” insisting that what Nigerian universities need is a total transformation, not superficial reforms.The union appealed to students, parents, and the general public for understanding, stressing that its struggle seeks to rescue the nation’s university system from total collapse.
ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) has therefore directed all branches nationwide to suspend academic activities effective 12:01 a.m. on Monday, October 13, 2025.
Strike takes its toll on LAUTECH
Findings by Ogbomoso Insight indicate that the ongoing ASUU strike has disrupted several academic activities at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.
An internal memorandum obtained by the outlet confirmed the indefinite postponement of an inaugural lecture earlier scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2025.
The notice, signed by Mrs. Julianah O. Oyetola, Deputy Registrar (Senate & Examinations) and Secretary of the Academic Lectures Committee, stated:
“I am directed by the Chairman, University Academic Lectures Committee, to inform the university community that the inaugural lecture scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2025, has been postponed indefinitely due to the ongoing ASUU strike. The new date will be communicated in due course.”
Similarly, an international conference organized by the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, which was to hold from October 14 to 17, has been rescheduled, with discussions ongoing about a possible change of venue.In addition, an emergency meeting of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources (CASRNR), slated for Tuesday to discuss the “full and final relocation” of staff to the Iseyin campus, has also been put on hold due to the industrial action.
‘Tragedy of monumental proportion’
In a related development, several students who spoke with Ogbomoso Insight voiced their frustration over the ongoing strike and appealed to the Federal Government to promptly address ASUU’s demands.
One student, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “We expected better from President Tinubu. He studied abroad, where academic activities are not constantly disrupted, so he should not allow this strike to continue or worsen. This situation is a tragedy of great magnitude.”
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