University lecturers across Nigeria have ended their work boycott and returned to their duties after the federal government released their June 2025 salaries on Tuesday.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had implemented a “no-pay-no-work” policy after experiencing salary delays spanning five consecutive months. These payment disruptions stemmed from the transition process that moved academic personnel from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), which was managed by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
Following Tuesday’s salary disbursement to lecturers and other tertiary institution staff nationwide, various ASUU chapters issued directives for their members to resume normal operations.
At Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi, ASUU branch leader Haruna Angulu verified that faculty members had returned to their positions once their June salaries appeared in their bank accounts, as reported by Punch.
The ASUU chapter at Federal University of Kashere also released an official memorandum instructing members to restart academic work, referencing the salary payments as the catalyst for this decision.
The University of Jos saw similar developments, with the institution’s bursary department issuing a notice confirming the settlement of overdue wages, which prompted lecturers to abandon their previous work stoppage.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa emphasized on Tuesday that the current calm environment in tertiary institutions resulted from ongoing negotiations and dialogue between stakeholders. Speaking in Abuja, he highlighted an unprecedented achievement: “Nigerian public tertiary institutions have maintained continuous operation and stability for two consecutive years—a feat not accomplished in decades.”
The Minister credited this peaceful period to persistent dialogue, mutual respect among parties, and the Tinubu administration’s dedication to addressing chronic problems affecting both teaching and non-teaching personnel.
“This demonstrates our government’s steadfast dedication to fostering positive relationships with all education sector participants. We are addressing demands progressively, maintaining both respect and consistency in our approach,” Alausa explained.
He reaffirmed that university staff welfare remains a central focus under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, declaring, “Our nation’s children are its lifeblood, and their continuous education cannot be compromised.”
The Minister provided additional assurance that the Federal Government would maintain active engagement with all education sector unions to protect the academic calendar’s integrity and ensure institutional continuity.
“The Federal Government remains committed to collaborative efforts with all education sector unions to keep our institutional doors open,” Alausa concluded.
