ASUU Resumes Indefinite Strike — Thousands of Students Affected Nationwide

Fresh fears of another shutdown in Nigeria’s university system have emerged following reports of an indefinite strike action involving university workers across the country.

The latest development has triggered widespread concern among students and parents already frustrated by repeated disruptions in the academic calendar.

Although the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has not officially declared a nationwide strike at the time of reporting, the union has openly backed the ongoing indefinite industrial action by university non-academic staff unions, raising fears that a total university shutdown may soon follow.

Philips News reports that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University branch, has resumed its previously suspended indefinite strike, citing the Taraba State Government’s failure to implement an agreement reached with the union on January 17, 2025.

The Taraba State University branch, in a press statement signed by the union’s chairman, Dr Joshua Garba Mbave, and made available to journalists on Wednesday in Jalingo, stated that the decision followed what it described as the government’s inability to take “concrete and verifiable steps” toward fulfilling its obligations.

According to the statement, the strike was earlier suspended in good faith to allow the government sufficient time to address the agreed issues. However, the union said no meaningful progress had been made.

“The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Taraba State University, TSU Branch, hereby informs the general public, students, parents, and all stakeholders that it has resumed its previously suspended total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike action,” the statement read.

ASUU explained that its congress, held on February 18, 2026, reviewed the situation and resolved that the continued neglect of longstanding issues left it with no alternative but to resume the industrial action.

The union listed several grievances behind the renewed strike, including the absence of a functional pension scheme for the university, failure to pay outstanding salary arrears owed to its members, non-payment of accumulated Earned Academic Allowances, EAA, and the non implementation of the newly negotiated 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement.

ASUU noted that the issues have persisted for an extended period and have adversely affected staff welfare, morale, and the overall functioning of the university system.

The union emphasized that the resumption of the strike was a last resort, undertaken only after sustained dialogue with the state government failed to yield the desired results.