The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has not declared a new nationwide strike across all federal universities as of September 19, 2026. However, lecturers in some institutions have begun separate local strikes, while others have recently suspended industrial action.

A viral social-media claim that all federal universities in Nigeria have secretly shut down because of an ongoing nationwide ASUU strike is false.

The claim has generated confusion among students and parents at a time when several universities are experiencing disputes involving salary payments, allowances and the implementation of agreements with the government.

However, the available evidence shows that ASUU's national leadership has threatened to resume industrial action, while individual university branches have taken separate decisions concerning their institutions.

What ASUU's national leadership announced

On September 11, ASUU warned that public universities could face another nationwide strike if the Federal Government and state governments failed to address outstanding demands.

The union cited incomplete implementation of its December 2025 agreement with the Federal Government, withheld salaries, unremitted deductions and concerns over university autonomy.

ASUU President Christopher Piwuna said the union could reactivate its suspended nationwide industrial action if the issues remained unresolved.

That warning was not an announcement that lecturers across every federal university had already stopped work.

However, separate university branches have taken industrial action over disputes affecting their respective institutions.

Which universities are currently affected?

University of Port Harcourt (UniPort)

The UniPort ASUU branch began an indefinite strike on September 16 over incomplete salary payments and outstanding responsibility allowances.

The union directed members to stop lectures, examinations, invigilation and other official duties until its demands are addressed.

Lagos State University (LASU), LASUED and LASUSTECH

ASUU branches at Lagos State University, Lagos State University of Education and Lagos State University of Science and Technology declared an indefinite strike over unresolved welfare demands and implementation of the 2025 agreement.

The three institutions are owned by the Lagos State Government.

Their industrial action is separate from any decision that may be taken by ASUU's national leadership.

Kaduna State University (KASU)

Unlike the other affected institutions, KASU's ASUU branch suspended its indefinite strike effective September 18.

The decision followed the Kaduna State Government's approval of the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement for academic staff at the university.

The university authorities also approved the payment of nine months of accrued arrears covering January to September 2026.

Academic activities are expected to resume following the suspension.

The situation at these institutions demonstrates why a nationwide strike warning should not be confused with separate decisions taken by individual ASUU branches.

A university can experience a local strike even when the union has not declared a nationwide shutdown.

Similarly, an individual university can suspend its strike while industrial action continues elsewhere.

What should Nigerian students do?

Students should check official announcements from their university management, student-affairs offices and recognised ASUU branches before making decisions about lectures, examinations or travel.

Those at UniPort and the three Lagos State-owned universities should pay particular attention to announcements concerning negotiations and the possible suspension of industrial action.

Students at KASU should check their university's latest academic calendar and arrangements following the suspension of its strike.

The status of one institution should not be assumed to apply to every university in Nigeria.

Verdict

The claim that all federal universities are secretly on strike is false.

ASUU's national leadership has threatened broader industrial action, but the available evidence as of September 19 does not establish that a new nationwide strike has begun.

Some institutions are experiencing separate local strikes, while others have suspended industrial action following negotiations.

The situation could change if ASUU's national leadership announces a new decision or affected branches reach agreements with their respective authorities.