The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has explained that it suspended its two-week nationwide warning strike to acknowledge the intervention of key stakeholders and to allow the Federal Government time to fulfil its outstanding obligations to the union.

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the outcome of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which ended in the early hours of the day.

Piwuna said the suspension followed what he described as “useful and encouraging engagements” with government officials, particularly after the intervention of the leadership of the National Assembly.

He stated that the union decided to grant the Federal Government a one-month window to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and address other unresolved issues affecting public universities.

According to him, “We’ve had useful engagements with representatives of the government to consider the response to the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreements. We are definitely not where we were prior to the commencement of the strike.

“The union acknowledges that government has returned to the negotiation table. While noting that a lot more work still needs to be done, NEC came to the conclusion that the ongoing strike be reviewed.

“The decision to suspend the warning strike was also in appreciation of the efforts of our students, parents, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and other well-meaning Nigerians who intervened in the matter.”

ASUU had, on October 13, 2025, declared a total and comprehensive warning strike to press home its demands.

Among the union’s major demands are the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement, release of withheld three and a half months’ salaries, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of tertiary institutions, and an end to the alleged victimisation of lecturers at Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

Other demands include the payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, settlement of over four years of promotion arrears, and the release of withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions.

Piwuna stressed that the suspension of the strike was a show of goodwill and not an indication that all issues had been resolved.

“We have decided to give the government this window to show sincerity and commitment to resolving all outstanding issues. We expect concrete results within the next one month,” he said.

He warned that ASUU would not hesitate to resume industrial action if the government failed to act within the agreed timeframe, reiterating the union’s commitment to defending the integrity and sustainability of Nigeria’s public universities.