ASUU-IBBU Begins Indefinite Strike Over Unimplemented 2025 Agreement

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State, have commenced an indefinite strike over the alleged failure of the state government to implement key provisions of the 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU.

The decision was taken on Monday after an emergency congress and a press conference held at the university premises in Lapai.

The ASUU-IBBU Chairman, Galadima Bala, said the union was left with no option after several meetings, engagements and appeals failed to produce a resolution to the issues surrounding the implementation of the agreement.

According to Bala, the agreement was reached with the involvement of state governments and public universities and should be fully implemented to maintain industrial peace and stability in the university system.

He said about 16 state-owned universities across the country had already started implementing the agreement, citing institutions in Bauchi, Gombe, Benue, Yobe, Osun, Ekiti and Kano. He also mentioned Nasarawa State University as another institution that had begun implementation.

The union warned that Niger State could be left behind if the government failed to respond to its demands. It also raised concerns about lecturers leaving universities where the agreement had not been implemented. ASUU cited a claim that more than 200 lecturers had left Kaduna State University, although the institution has disputed the figure.

The dispute comes at a time when funding, staff welfare and the retention of qualified academics remain major concerns in Nigeria's public university system. ASUU believes that failure to implement agreed provisions could worsen the movement of lecturers to institutions offering better conditions.

For IBBU, the union said prolonged neglect of the issues could affect the quality of education and have wider consequences for the development of Niger State.

ASUU-IBBU has called on the Niger State Government to take immediate and concrete steps towards implementing the outstanding provisions of the agreement. Although the union has commenced an indefinite strike, it said it remains willing to engage in genuine dialogue.

The union also assured that the strike would be suspended once the government demonstrates a clear commitment to resolving the issues. Meanwhile, members have been urged to remain calm, disciplined and law-abiding throughout the industrial action.