The Reasons Behind the Suspension of the Two-Week Warning Strike

By Faith Ajewole 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike, effective from midnight, Wednesday, October 22, 2025. The suspension was announced by ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, during a press briefing in Abuja.

According to Prof. Piwuna, the decision to call off the strike was made after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held overnight on October 21-22, 2025. The NEC meeting concluded that the warning strike had achieved part of its objective, particularly in compelling the government to return to the negotiation table.

The union had embarked on the strike on October 13, 2025, over the federal government's failure to meet several outstanding demands, including the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, payment of withheld salaries, revitalization of public universities, and an end to the alleged victimization of lecturers.

Prof. Piwuna stated that the suspension of the strike was a result of the efforts of students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), who had intervened in the dispute. He also appreciated the interventions of the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, and Labour, as well as the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin.

However, ASUU has given the Federal Government a one-month ultimatum to address the outstanding issues. If the government fails to meet the demands within the specified timeframe, the union will resume the strike without further notice.¹ ²

"The struggle continues," Prof. Piwuna reaffirmed, urging well-meaning Nigerians to press the government to fulfill its promises to maintain industrial peace and ensure academic stability.

The suspension of the warning strike has brought mixed reactions from students, with some expressing relief that the academic calendar will not be further disrupted, while others are concerned about the pending academic backlog.

Source:https://thewhistler.ng

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