ABUJA — The Academic Staff Union of Universities has warned of possible industrial action in several state-owned universities over the failure of some state governments to implement provisions of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement. The union said continued delays in the payment of agreed allowances and other entitlements were creating tension within the university system. The warning followed separate statements from ASUU zones covering universities in different parts of the country. In the Benin Zone, the union said seven state-owned universities in Edo, Delta and Ondo states could face an indefinite strike if the agreement was not implemented in the July salary payments. The affected institutions include Ambrose Alli University, Adekunle Ajasin University, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Delta State University, University of Delta, Dennis Osadebay University and Southern Delta University. Similar concerns were raised by ASUU zones in other parts of the country. The union has argued that state universities should not be excluded from arrangements negotiated with the Federal Government when their academic staff are affected by the same national issues. Among the issues raised are salary arrears and allowances intended to support academic staff. University lecturers' welfare has remained a recurring issue in Nigeria's higher education system. Previous disputes over remuneration, working conditions and funding have contributed to prolonged disruptions of academic calendars. ASUU has repeatedly warned that failure to address outstanding agreements could undermine stability in public universities. The union's latest position places pressure on state governments to resolve the issues before the proposed deadlines. Students are among those most affected when universities shut down. Industrial action can interrupt lectures, examinations, research and graduation schedules. It can also increase the financial burden on students who may have to remain away from their institutions for extended periods. University authorities therefore have an interest in resolving disputes before they escalate. Funding is central to the broader debate. State-owned universities depend heavily on government support, while institutions also face increasing demands for infrastructure, staff recruitment and research. Without predictable funding, universities can struggle to retain experienced academics and maintain facilities. ASUU has also argued that proper implementation of agreements is important for staff morale. Lecturers who believe that negotiated commitments are not being honoured may become less motivated, while institutions may find it difficult to attract qualified personnel. The union has therefore called on the affected governments to act before the situation develops into another nationwide disruption. Government officials have an opportunity to use dialogue to resolve the disagreements. Negotiations can help establish realistic payment schedules and clarify which obligations have already been fulfilled. Preventing a strike would also protect students from another interruption to their academic programmes. The situation highlights the importance of maintaining credible agreements between governments and university staff. When commitments are negotiated and signed, implementation becomes essential to maintaining trust. The coming weeks will determine whether the affected state governments can settle the outstanding issues before ASUU's deadlines. For students and parents, the preferred outcome remains uninterrupted academic activity. For universities, stable industrial relations are essential to maintaining teaching, research and institutional development.