ASUU Issues Fresh Warning: Lecturers to Boycott Classes if Salaries Delay Beyond 3rd Day
ASUU Warns: Lecturers to Boycott Classes If Salaries Delay Beyond 3rd of the Month
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a new directive to lecturers across Nigeria’s federal and state universities. In a statement released on June 12, 2025, the union declared that any month salaries are not paid by the third day of the new month, lecturers should immediately suspend all academic activities.
This new policy is ASUU's firm response to what it calls "consistent neglect and economic starvation" of academic staff through delayed or irregular salary payments. Many members have reportedly gone months with no pay or have been paid late repeatedly, which has affected both their morale and productivity.
“We cannot continue to work without food in our stomachs or money to get to work. Our members have been stretched beyond reason,” the statement read.
The union emphasized that this move falls under its long-standing “No Pay, No Work” principle, and warned that ignoring their demands could lead to further disruption in the already fragile academic calendar of Nigerian universities.
Why ASUU Is Taking a Stand
ASUU claims that over the last 24 months, public university lecturers have endured persistent hardships due to late or partial salary payments. According to the union, some universities go up to the middle or end of the month before remitting salaries, with some staff members relying on loans just to get by.
Lecturers in affected institutions also complain of deductions, poor health care benefits, and lack of retirement contributions — all while inflation continues to bite harder in the country.
“Many of our members have defaulted on rent, school fees, transportation costs. How can a scholar give their best in such conditions?” a union official lamented.
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Impact on Students and University Operations
If ASUU goes through with this directive on a national scale, it could paralyze academic activities. Examinations, lectures, research work, project supervision, and admission processing could all grind to a halt.
Already, students from several institutions have begun voicing concerns about how this will affect their education and graduation timelines. Final-year students and postgraduate scholars are particularly worried, as many depend on consistent academic calendars to meet scholarship, internship, or employment timelines.
“We just resumed from a previous strike. Now another round of disruption? The government needs to do better,” said Chuka, a student from the University of Benin.
Calls for Dialogue and Lasting Solutions
ASUU has repeatedly called on the Federal Government and university governing councils to ensure prompt payment of salaries and better welfare packages. The union argues that the solution lies in proper planning and timely budgetary allocations — not in vague promises or bureaucratic excuses.
Education stakeholders and civil society groups are now urging both parties to engage in meaningful dialogue before the situation escalates into another prolonged nationwide strike.
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ASUU’s Final Warning
The union concluded its memo with a stern note: if salaries are not paid by the 3rd of every month going forward, “all academic staff should consider themselves on sit-at-home strike until full payment is confirmed.”
This marks a more strategic approach compared to full-on strikes. Instead of waiting for months, ASUU will now react immediately to any month’s delay, hoping this forces the system to become more responsive and respectful to lecturers' needs.
The fate of Nigerian higher education now hangs in the balance — again.
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π Posted on: June 12, 2025 | π·️ Labels: ASUU, Strike, Education, University Lecturers, Nigeria News, NSMedia
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