ASUU threatens strike as FG fails to release funds for 40% salary increase across 100 universities

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned of an imminent nationwide strike after the Federal Government allegedly failed to release funds to sustain the 40 per cent salary increase approved for university lecturers, with no federal university having paid the July increment across nearly 100 institutions.

ASUU UNN Chapter Chairperson Prof. Florence Onyebuchi Orabueze told Sahara Reporters that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka had been funding the salary increase from its internally generated revenue since January, but the Federal Government had only reimbursed the institution through May — leaving June and July unpaid.

“The problem is that the government is not releasing the money,” she said, adding that discussions at ASUU’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja confirmed the crisis was nationwide. “More than almost 100 universities — we found out that no federal university has paid that of July,” she stated.

ASUU warned that industrial action could commence between late August and early September if the funding crisis remains unresolved.