Nans Urges ASUU to Shelve Planned Strike Over June Salary Delay

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to reconsider its plan to embark on a nationwide strike over the delay in payment of June 2025 salaries.

In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by the association’s National Vice President on Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Felicia Akinbodunse, NANS appealed to the union to prioritise the interests of students, noting that another strike would disrupt the academic stability universities have enjoyed in the past two years.

Akinbodunse said, “Any industrial action by ASUU now would destabilise the stable academic calendar universities had enjoyed for the past two years.”

Her appeal comes amid growing tension across campuses following a directive by ASUU’s national leadership on Monday, instructing its branches to suspend academic activities in protest against unpaid salaries. The union cited the enforcement of its longstanding “No Pay, No Work” resolution, which mandates lecturers to halt work whenever salaries are delayed beyond three days.

ASUU chapters at the University of Jos and University of Abuja have already commenced strike actions in compliance with the directive.

Confirming the development, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, told reporters in Abuja that the decision was based on a resolution of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC). “Any month members’ salaries were delayed beyond three days, they should withdraw their services until the salaries were paid,” he said.

Despite ASUU’s position, NANS is calling for restraint and dialogue. Akinbodunse appealed to the union to reconsider its stand, saying, “Students are always at the receiving end any time the academic union embarks on strike.”

She encouraged ASUU to continue engaging the federal government to resolve the salary issue amicably, adding that the Tinubu administration had so far enjoyed relatively peaceful academic sessions with little or no disruption.

“Students and their parents cannot afford any disruption in the academic calendar, particularly in the face of the current economic situation,” Akinbodunse said, urging the union to show compassion.

She also appealed to the federal government to promptly address the concerns of the lecturers and find a lasting solution to the recurring delays in salary payments.