The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its planned strike action after the delayed payment of June 2025 salaries was resolved. Chairman of the University of Abuja branch, Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, confirmed the development in an interview Tuesday.
According to Dr. Ugoh, the union decided not to proceed with its earlier resolution to withdraw services, as members began receiving their June salaries just before the 11:59 p.m. deadline on Monday, July 7.
“The June 2025 salary of our members started to drop before the end of the 11:59 p.m. ultimatum given by ASUU UniAbuja. Therefore, the Branch did not activate the withdrawal of service as earlier resolved by Congress,” he stated.
The decision has temporarily averted what could have escalated into a nationwide shutdown of academic activities. ASUU’s national leadership had previously directed branches to commence withdrawal of services if salaries were not paid by the deadline, invoking a National Executive Council (NEC) resolution to enforce a “No Pay, No Work” stance.
The salary delays, which ASUU blames on the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, have been a recurring issue. ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, described the situation as a consequence of the government’s “lackadaisical attitude,” despite ongoing efforts to resolve the problem.
“We want to work, but we cannot because they have not allowed us to work. It’s a deliberate act. The payment platform isn’t the problem. The issue is that those in charge of releasing funds are simply not doing their jobs,” Piwuna said.
He also highlighted the difficulties caused by the government’s transition from the IPPIS to the GIFMIS payment platform, which he claimed has worsened the financial hardship faced by lecturers. Piwuna added that any university whose staff had not received salaries by July 7 was expected to begin strike action.
While the disbursement of salaries has temporarily de-escalated tensions, ASUU warned that further delays could prompt immediate industrial action in the future.
