By Christian Abolu

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike, which began on October 13, 2025, following renewed commitments from the Federal Government and the National Assembly to address its long-standing demands.

ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, announced the suspension during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

He explained that the decision came after a series of engagements with the Yayale Ahmed-led committee and the Deputy Senate President, which resulted in assurances that the government would act swiftly on the union’s grievances.

According to Professor Piwuna, ASUU decided to give the government an additional month to demonstrate genuine commitment to resolving the issues, warning that failure to make tangible progress within the period would lead to an immediate resumption of the strike without further notice.

The union’s major demands include a comprehensive review of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement, the payment of outstanding salaries and allowances, and the release of funds for the revitalisation of public universities.

Other concerns revolve around staff welfare, infrastructural development, and the autonomy of the university system.

ASUU had embarked on the warning strike after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum, protesting what it described as the government’s persistent neglect of the education sector and failure to honour previously signed agreements.

In response, the Federal Government criticised the strike, insisting that efforts were already underway to address the union’s demands.

It also directed universities to implement the “No Work, No Pay” policy, ordering vice-chancellors to conduct staff headcounts and submit attendance reports.

The National Assembly had waded into the dispute last week, with the Senate expressing concern over the government’s inability to fulfil its obligations to ASUU.

The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, chaired by Senator Aliyu Dandutse, pledged to initiate a new round of negotiations involving ASUU, the Ministry of Education, and the National Universities Commission (NUC) in search of a lasting solution.

The committee also indicated plans to engage the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on resolving the lingering issue of the University of Abuja’s land.

While the suspension of the strike has been met with cautious optimism, ASUU has made it clear that the next 30 days will be decisive.

The union urged the government to use the period to take concrete steps towards fulfilling its promises and avert another disruption of academic activities across public universities.