The Academic Staff Union of Universities has commenced an indefinite strike at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, over the non-payment of the full August 2026 salaries of its members.
The development has disrupted academic activities at the university as lecturers under the institution’s ASUU branch withdraw their services pending the resolution of the salary dispute. PUNCH reported the development among a series of ongoing industrial disputes affecting state-owned and other public universities.
The action at UNIZIK comes amid growing concerns over salary-related disputes involving university lecturers, with unions insisting that outstanding payments must be addressed before normal academic activities can resume.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Association of Nigerian Students has called on the Nasarawa State Government to urgently intervene in the ongoing ASUU strike at Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
The ASUU branch at the university declared a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike on August 10, 2026, over issues affecting its members. The action has disrupted academic activities and left students unable to continue their programmes as scheduled.
NANS urged the state government to engage the university lecturers and the union with a view to resolving the dispute and restoring academic activities. The students’ body has also warned state governments against allowing disputes over funding and workers’ welfare to escalate into strikes that ultimately affect students.
The Nasarawa State Government has said it remains committed to resolving the dispute and has encouraged the university’s students to embrace dialogue rather than protests. The state government has also maintained that efforts are being made to address the issues surrounding the strike.
The two disputes highlight continuing tensions over the welfare and remuneration of university lecturers, particularly in state-owned institutions, where funding responsibilities rest largely with state governments.
For students, prolonged industrial action means disruption to lectures, examinations and academic calendars, with the possibility of further delays if negotiations between the affected university authorities, governments and ASUU fail to produce an agreement.
AbdulBasit Saba is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
