The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to suspend its planned strike over the delayed payment of June salaries to its members.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by NANS National Vice President for Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Felicia Akinbodunse, the student body urged ASUU to explore dialogue with the federal government rather than resort to industrial action.
Akinbodunse warned that a fresh strike by ASUU could jeopardise the academic stability that universities across the country have experienced over the last two years.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that ASUU had, on Monday, confirmed it had instructed all its chapters nationwide to begin withdrawing services in protest of the unpaid June 2025 salaries. The move follows the union’s long-standing “No Pay, No Work” resolution.
ASUU chapters at the University of Jos and the University of Abuja have already commenced strike action in compliance with the national directive.
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ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, confirmed the development in Abuja, stating that the resolution from the union’s National Executive Council mandated that if members’ salaries were delayed for more than three days, they should cease work until payment was made.
In response, Akinbodunse appealed for a reconsideration of the strike plan, stressing that students always bear the brunt of such industrial actions.
She noted that under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s universities had enjoyed relatively uninterrupted academic sessions, and urged ASUU to preserve the progress made so far.
According to her, sustained academic calendars are especially important in the face of Nigeria’s current economic challenges, which make any disruption particularly burdensome for students and their families.
“We urge ASUU to prioritise dialogue and not allow the situation to degenerate. The leadership of the union should engage with the federal government and resolve this matter amicably,” she said.
She also appealed to the federal government to expedite the payment of salaries and to implement measures that will prevent future delays.
“It is critical that the issue of salary delays is addressed permanently to avoid repeated disruptions in the academic calendar,” she added.
NAN
