Nigeria's university lecturers called off their two-week warning strike Wednesday night, directing members to resume classes Thursday, but issued a stern one-month ultimatum to the federal government to resolve long-standing grievances or face an indefinite shutdown.

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) National President Prof. Chris Piwuna announced the suspension during a late press briefing in Abuja, following an overnight National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that wrapped up at 4 a.m.

The action, effective immediately from midnight October 22, reciprocates pressure from students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress, though Piwuna stressed negotiations on the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement remain far from complete."We've had useful engagements with representatives of the government... However, we are definitely not where we were prior to the commencement of the strike," Piwuna said, crediting the government's return to the table but underscoring unresolved issues.

The union's demands include finalizing the renegotiated 2009 pact, releasing three-and-a-half months' withheld salaries from prior disputes, securing sustainable public university funding, and halting lecturer victimizations at institutions like Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University, and Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO).

Other priorities: Clearing 25-35% salary arrears, paying promotion backlogs over four years old, and releasing withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union dues. Failure to act by November 22 could trigger a full-scale strike, disrupting academic calendars nationwide.

The warning action, launched October 13 amid stalled talks, paralyzed lectures across federal universities for 10 days, drawing widespread outcry from stakeholders. Piwuna noted the suspension as a goodwill gesture but warned of escalating measures if progress stalls, echoing ASUU's history of prolonged disputes that have idled campuses for months in recent years.

Government officials, through the Ministry of Education, welcomed the pause as a step toward dialogue, with Education Minister Tahir Mamman previously committing to accelerated renegotiations. Yet, ASUU insists on tangible commitments, viewing the one-month window as non-negotiable.

As students gear up for resumed sessions, the clock ticks on a resolution that could avert another semester in limbo, with unions like the NLC vowing solidarity if deadlines slip.