Temitayo Olumofe
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has once again called a nationwide strike that officially began Monday, on October 13, 2025. This two-week strike comes after the union rejected the federal government’s latest proposal aimed at resolving their long-standing demands. Despite the federal government’s insistence that most of ASUU’s concerns have been met, the lecturers remain resolute in withdrawing their services, continuing a pattern of disruption that has become all too familiar in Nigeria’s higher education system.
ASUU’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, declared a total and comprehensive warning strike starting from midnight on October 13. According to Piwuna, the union reluctantly took this step due to the federal government’s failure to make meaningful progress following ASUU’s final ultimatum two weeks ago. He stated, “It is regrettable to note that nothing significant has happened to change the position of NEC since we last briefed the Press.” The National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU unanimously directed all branches across the country to withdraw their services today.
The federal government, through the Ministry of Education, led by Dr. Tunji Alausa, responded with disappointment. Alausa affirmed that “all demands of ASUU have been met,” listing several key accomplishments such as the payment of N50 billion in academic allowance arrears and progress on promotion arrears slated for the 2026 budget. He disclosed, “The federal government committee provided ASUU a counter proposal on October 10 on issues of condition of service and welfare of workers, but the union had yet to respond before embarking on strike.” The government invoked its ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy effective from midnight as a legal measure to curb the impact of the strike.
This strike marks the first nationwide industrial action by ASUU since the prolonged eight-month strike that lasted from February to October 2022. The government’s stance remains firm, with Education Minister Alausa lamenting that the lecturers appeared “not interested in keeping the students in class despite the efforts of the federal government.” Meanwhile, other university staff unions such as CONUA and NAMDA have dissociated themselves from ASUU’s action, opting not to participate in the strike.
ASUU strikes are not new; in fact, they have become an almost annual ritual in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. As of 2022, ASUU has embarked on strike actions seventeen times since 1999, accumulating a total of five calendar years out of 23 years. The longest strike lasted 270 days. These repeated shutdowns disrupt academic calendars, affecting hundreds of thousands of students.
The reasons behind the frequent strikes often stem from unresolved disputes over funding for universities, the welfare and conditions of service for academic staff, payment of earned allowances, and inadequate infrastructure in universities. ASUU contends that the federal government’s perennial failure to uphold agreements signed between the two parties forces them to resort to strikes to protect the interest of university education in Nigeria. The union has accused the government of insincerity and deviation from agreed terms, particularly regarding adequate funding and staff welfare improvements.
The government, on the other hand, insists it has made significant strides in addressing ASUU’s demands. The 2025 budget included a NEEDS (Needs Assessment) fund with an initial release of N50 billion towards revitalizing universities, which the government views as a demonstration of good faith. Despite these efforts, the failure to reach a long-lasting agreement fuels the strike culture.
The impact on students is severe. Academic years are often extended, resulting in delayed graduations. The repeated disruptions also negatively affect the morale of students and faculty alike, stalling research, academic development, and the overall growth of Nigerian tertiary education.
Breaking the cycle of strikes requires a permanent and comprehensive solution founded on mutual trust, transparent dialogue, and sustained government commitment. Several approaches could be pursued:
Institutionalizing Dialogue Platforms:
Establish a formal, continuous negotiation platform involving ASUU, the federal government, state governments, and university managements to address grievances preemptively before they escalate to strike threats.
Adequate and Timely Funding: The government must prioritize adequate budget allocations that align with the needs of universities, ensuring the timely release of funds. Delays in funding and unfulfilled financial commitments are major triggers for strikes.
Review of Working Conditions:
Continuous review and improvement of lecturers’ welfare and working conditions, including payment of all arrears, salary adjustments, and providing necessary teaching and research infrastructure, are critical for morale and productivity.
Legal Framework for Conflict Resolution:
Enforce regulations that prevent strikes from crippling education for prolonged periods, such as mediation and arbitration mechanisms with binding outcomes.
Stakeholder Engagement: Include student representatives and the public in discussions on education policy reforms, building broader support and awareness of challenges and solutions.
Dedicated Educational Trust Fund: Create an autonomous fund specifically dedicated to the development and maintenance of tertiary institution infrastructure and staff welfare, managed transparently to reduce accusations of government insincerity.
The root cause of ASUU strikes remains the confidence gap between lecturers and the government. Until both sides commit to sustained cooperation and problem-solving, Nigerian universities risk continued interruptions that harm the academic futures of millions.
This latest two-week ASUU strike is yet another chapter in the ongoing saga of industrial actions disrupting higher education in Nigeria. While the federal government insists it has met ASUU’s demands and called on the union to return to negotiations, the union remains steadfast in the strike. Both parties face the immense challenge of restoring trust and crafting durable solutions that prevent future strikes and resume normal academic life in Nigeria’s universities. The nation’s educational progress and the futures of students and academics depend on ending the strike cycle permanently.
The repeated ASUU strikes have left many Nigerians frustrated, especially students and their families who bear the brunt of academic disruptions. Students often find themselves in limbo, with semesters extended indefinitely and their educational progress stalled. This uncertainty also burdens parents financially as they continue paying for accommodation, feeding, and other university-related expenses without progress in their children’s education. Industry stakeholders worry that these interruptions compromise the quality of graduates, impacting Nigeria’s workforce readiness and economic development. Moreover, the global competitiveness of Nigerian universities suffers as research activities and academic collaborations frequently grind to a halt during strikes.
The government and ASUU must intensify efforts to build trust through transparent communication and adherence to promises made. Engagement beyond reactive negotiations, such as investing in preventive measures and involving independent mediators, could also help preempt disputes. Public opinion tends to side with students, stressing that education is a right and should not be held hostage to protracted disagreements.
A sustainable solution must integrate short-term relief with long-term structural reforms. Only then can Nigeria’s university system break free from the cycle of strikes and offer uninterrupted, quality education to its youthful population, securing the nation’s future prosperity and social stability. The time to end this ritual is now so that Nigerian education can truly blossom on the global stage.