Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
As the one-month ultimatum issued by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) draws to a close, millions of Nigerian university students are anxiously waiting to know whether classes will resume next week or if the nation is headed for yet another academic disruption.
The ultimatum, which expires today, Friday, 20 November 2025, has rekindled old fears among students and parents who have endured years of repeated strikes, stretched academic calendars, and delayed graduations.
For ASUU, the issue extends beyond unpaid entitlements; it is about trust, dignity, and the survival of Nigeria’s public university system.
Central to the standoff is what the union calls the Federal Government’s “misrepresentation” of its commitments, including the selective implementation of previously signed agreements.
The partial release of promotion arrears dating back to 2017, delays in third-party deductions, and other outstanding entitlements are being presented as government “achievements,” a narrative ASUU says undermines sincere negotiation.
Speaking at a press conference in Sokoto on Thursday, Zonal Coordinator Professor Abubakar Sabo voiced concern over what he described as the government’s inconsistent and uncoordinated approach to dialogue.
He noted that ASUU demonstrated good faith by suspending its two-week warning strike in October to allow space for genuine engagement.
But with the deadline now here, many fear that the government’s silence could push the university system toward another shutdown, one that students, lecturers, and parents worry may further destabilize an already fragile educational structure.
Across campuses, tension is palpable. Students whisper anxiously in hostel corridors and libraries, lecturers speak with muted frustration, and parents brace for another possible setback.
For now, the fate of Nigeria’s public universities hangs once again in uncertain balance.
