Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) don issue four-day ultimatum to Federal Government of Nigeria to begin implement new salary structure for university lecturers across the country. ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, announce this matter on Thursday during public lecture wey hold for Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus, for Bauchi State.
Piwuna talk say the ultimatum start from Thursday and Federal Government must begin payment under the new salary arrangement immediately. According to am, the salary structure don approve after long negotiation between union and government, with implementation wey suppose start for January 2026. “We don issue four-day ultimatum from today to Federal Government to begin payment of the newly approved salary structure. If dem no comply, strong response go come from union,” Piwuna yarn.
The ASUU president express concern over wetin he describe as Federal Government repeated failure to honour agreements wey dem reach with union. He talk say such actions don cause dispute and industrial action for university system before. Piwuna also criticize plan to establish branch of Coventry University for Nigeria after President Bola Tinubu visit to London. He talk say union go resist the move because e fit undermine development of Nigerian universities.
According to am, the proposed entry of foreign institution na like colonialism for Nigeria education sector. Piwuna add say Federal Government suppose collaborate with ASUU to make country universities strong to meet educational needs of present and future generations. For March 11, 2026, ASUU direct members for some branches to withdraw their services over delay for payment of June 2025 salary arrears and challenges related to transition to Government Integrated Financial Management Information System.
Union don issue several ultimatums for late 2025, including 14-day and one-month notices, wey dem urge government to conclude renegotiation and implementation of 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement. Meanwhile, federal civil servants outside university system also threaten nationwide industrial action for March 25, 2026, over outstanding wage awards, wey show say labour matter dey hot for public sector.
For abroad side, union matter dey hot too. For Portland, Oregon for United States, Portland Community College (PCC) workers don reach tentative agreement after strike. PCC Federation of Classified Employees members, wey be 700 workers, don vote to ratify agreement and go end walkout on Monday. However, strike still dey continue for 1,300 members of Faculty Federation, including teachers, instructors and academic staff, wey still dey negotiate with college.
According to PCC Federation of Classified Employees, the walkout make college administration invest additional $4.6 million into their members contracts, including raises, added benefits and protections. Eighty-two percent of members wey vote support ratifying tentative agreement. Ellen Dishman, member of PCCFCE, talk say negotiations start nearly one year ago. “I know e go pay off. I know say we go dey better place than when we start negotiations, nearly 12 months ago,” Dishman talk.
Dishman talk say classified staff help keep college running but dem no teach classes. She add say strike no go fully end until faculty negotiations conclude. David Shultis, mental health provider and organizing officer with Faculty Federation, talk say strike dey challenging but necessary. “To push our membership all the way to three weeks of striking na just totally unnecessary,” Shultis yarn.
With faculty talks still dey ongoing, start of spring term remain uncertain. Class schedules may not fully resume until both unions reach agreements. Shultis also clarify say only striking union members technically cross picket line; students and others wey dey access essential services no dey cross. “I want to go back to my job. I love my job. My team dey amazing. And students wey I dey work with dey really put their lives together and change their lives.”
For statement, PCC President Dr. Adrien Bennings talk say agreement come amid significant financial pressures for colleges for Oregon and nationwide. Rising costs, uncertain state and federal funding, and post-COVID enrollment declines don make many institutions spend more than wetin dem take in, she talk. For Massachusetts side, staff for Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School don file lawsuit against district after stalled negotiations over new labour contract.
Bay Path Teachers Association file lawsuit against school district after district refuse to meet union members to negotiate on new collective bargaining agreement, according to union. “District don walk out of negotiations with BPTA,” Eileen McNamara, social studies teacher and president of association, talk for interview. McNamara talk say representatives from union meet with district for March 19, but disagreement dey over size of negotiating team wey union want use during bargaining session.
Union represent two units of employees of district, paraprofessionals and teaching staff, each with separate contracts. Union dey currently for negotiations for new contract for paraprofessionals, whose agreement expire for end of last school year. Dem don dey work without contract. Contract for teaching staff set to expire for end of current school year, but when time reach to set dates for bargaining sessions, McNamara talk say district consistently push back dates.
“We originally first want begin negotiations for November, but first date we hear back from district na for January,” McNamara talk. “That eventually get push back to March 19, and then dem walk out of that meeting.” McNamara talk say district don dey try make union agree to certain ground rules for negotiations, wey include limit number of representatives at meeting for each side. McNamara talk say legally, district no fit dictate number of negotiators union fit get for bargaining table.
“Benefit dey for make everyone from all over building dey these negotiations, including academic staff, vocational staff and academic support staff,” McNamara talk. “Smaller group no dey as representative of our union. District no want accept say this na how we vote and how we want negotiate for our side.” For March 20, union file unfair labour practice lawsuit with state Department of Labor Relations.
Under Massachusetts state law, school districts and labour unions wey represent teachers get to dey open to bargaining in good faith, wey union allege say no dey happen. James Kobialka, field representative for Massachusetts Teachers Association central regional office, talk say purpose of lawsuit na to try make Bay Path resume negotiations. “Lawsuit na to try make dem go back to table,” Kobialka talk. “Lawsuit na attempt to make DLR step in and see wetin dey happen and make dem go back to negotiation table, so we fit avoid make something like staff work next year without contract.”
Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School get enrollment of 1,180 students, and e serve students from towns of Auburn, Charlton, Dudley, North Brookfield, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Southbridge, Spencer and Webster. For statement to T&G, Kyle Brenner, Superintendent-Director for Bay Path, talk say district want limit size of bargaining team to “reasonable number.” “Union file charge with state agency because district no go agree to union demand say district meet in negotiations with unlimited number of people wey union bring,” Brenner talk.
“District definitely want bargain and don seek to negotiate agreement to limit size of bargaining teams on both sides to reasonable number. However, union instead decide to litigate matter. District remain committed to bargain fair contract wey affordable for taxpayers of district.” Brenner continue, talk say district dey eager to go back to bargaining table. “District value every member of our staff, from our vocational instructors to our dedicated paraprofessionals. Our goal don always dey, and remain, to secure fair and competitive deal wey recognise hard work of our educators while ensure long-term fiscal health and excellence of our district,” Brenner talk.
“School committee and administration dey eager to move forward constructively and remain optimistic say resolution fit reach wey honour contributions of our staff and maintain Bay Path standing as leader for career vocational technical education.” McNamara talk say e dey challenging to continue work for building where you feel say administration of district no dey support staff. “Administration and School committee don show say dem rather spend money on lawyers than negotiate with staff,” McNamara talk. “E dey huge drain on staff when you feel like leadership care more about fight you than help you.”
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