ASUU-NAU Begins Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid August Salaries in UNIZIK

By Gabriel Chy Alonta

Academic activities at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, may be disrupted indefinitely as the university’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-NAU) has directed its members to withdraw their academic and administrative services over the non-payment of their complete August 2026 salaries.

The union announced the decision on Monday, September 7, 2026, following an emergency Congress meeting in Awka, saying the action was taken in compliance with a standing resolution of the ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) on salary delays.

According to the union, the ASUU-NEC resolution empowers branches to withdraw their services where members’ salaries remain unpaid beyond the third day of the following month.

“Today is 7th September 2026 and the University has not paid complete salary for the month of August to our members,” the union said in a statement signed by its Chairperson, Innocent Nnubia, and Secretary, Osita Nnajiofor.

The union described the situation as “ugly and frustrating,” noting that it was not the first time members had experienced incomplete or delayed salary payments.

“This makes it more than three times that our members are having this ugly and frustrating experience,” the statement said.

ASUU-NAU stressed that the immediate cause of the industrial action was solely the non-payment of the complete August 2026 salary and called on the university authorities and the Visitor to the institution, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene urgently.

“The sole reason for this action is the non-payment of the complete salary of August 2026,” the union stated.

The union appealed to the university management and the Federal Government to ensure that all outstanding portions of the August salary were paid to affected members and to put measures in place to prevent a recurrence.

Following the Congress resolution, ASUU-NAU directed all members to immediately withdraw their academic and administrative services.

It further resolved that the withdrawal of services would remain in force until the complete payment of the August 2026 salary to all members.

The development is expected to have implications for teaching, examinations, administrative duties and other academic activities at the university if the salary dispute is not resolved.

The union said it remained committed to resolving the matter through the payment of the outstanding salaries.

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