ABUJA — The Academic Staff Union of Universities has threatened industrial action in universities across Oyo, Kwara and Enugu states over the implementation of the 2025 agreement reached between the Federal Government and the union. The union said the affected state governments must implement the agreement and address outstanding financial obligations to lecturers. ASUU's Ibadan Zone, which covers several universities in the South-West, said failure to implement the agreement could lead to disruption of academic activities. The union has also raised similar concerns in Enugu, where its Nsukka Zone warned that the Enugu State University of Science and Technology could face an indefinite strike if the outstanding issues were not addressed. The dispute centres on remuneration and allowances, including arrears dating from January 2026. ASUU has argued that lecturers require proper implementation of negotiated agreements to maintain morale and stability in the university system. University staff welfare has remained a major issue in Nigeria's higher education sector. Previous disputes have resulted in prolonged strikes that disrupted academic calendars and affected millions of students. The latest warning therefore comes with concerns about the possible consequences of another interruption. Students depend on stable academic calendars to complete lectures, examinations and graduation requirements on time. Delays can also affect students seeking employment or further education because they may not receive their certificates according to expected schedules. Universities themselves face difficulties when industrial disputes continue for extended periods. Research projects can be interrupted and international collaborations may be affected. Government and university administrators therefore have strong incentives to resolve disputes through dialogue. Funding is at the centre of the issue. State universities require adequate financial support to meet staff obligations and maintain facilities. Higher education also requires investment in laboratories, libraries, digital infrastructure and student services. ASUU has maintained that improving lecturers' conditions is part of improving the quality of university education. The union argues that qualified academics are more likely to remain in institutions when salaries and allowances are paid properly. Retaining experienced lecturers is important because students depend on them for teaching and research supervision. The governments involved will now face pressure to resolve the issues before the union's deadlines. Negotiations can provide an opportunity to establish payment schedules and address disagreements over implementation. Preventing another strike would protect students from disruptions that have historically affected Nigerian universities. The dispute also demonstrates the need for governments to honour agreements once they have been negotiated. Credible implementation can strengthen trust between authorities and organised labour. For students and parents, the immediate priority is continuity of academic activities. For lecturers, the priority is the payment of agreed remuneration and allowances. A negotiated solution would therefore serve both sides. The coming weeks will determine whether the threatened strike is activated. Until then, universities and students remain dependent on the ability of government and the union to resolve the outstanding issues through dialogue.