Nigeria’s public universities may again be plunged into paralysis as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has vowed to commence an indefinite nationwide strike on Friday, November 21, following what it describes as the federal government’s persistent failure to honour long-standing agreements.

The union’s declaration comes after the expiration of a one-month ultimatum issued to the government to address unresolved demands that have lingered for years. In a terse statement released via its official X account on Tuesday, ASUU said all public universities across the country would be shut “till further notice” beginning Friday if the government does not act swiftly.

ASUU insists that the issues at stake—fair remuneration, improved working conditions and an urgent reversal of the ongoing brain drain crippling Nigerian universities—must be addressed decisively.

The union accused the federal government of selectively implementing agreements previously reached, despite suspending an earlier warning strike this year to allow for renegotiations. It also rejected the government’s proposed 35 percent salary increase for lecturers, describing the offer as inadequate and misaligned with current economic realities.

This looming shutdown follows the two-week warning strike staged in October, which ASUU suspended to pave the way for discussions on the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and other unresolved issues affecting the nation’s university system.

With Friday’s deadline fast approaching, anxiety is mounting among students, parents and education stakeholders, as the prospect of yet another prolonged shutdown threatens to further destabilize Nigeria’s already fragile academic calendar.