Okay news reports that the Federal Government has called on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to immediately suspend its ongoing nationwide strike, insisting that it has addressed all the issues raised by the union.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the appeal during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, where he expressed disappointment over ASUU’s decision to embark on a two-week warning strike despite what he described as “sincere and comprehensive efforts” by the government to meet their demands.
According to Alausa, the Bola Tinubu-led administration has “met every single request” presented by the union and even provided a formal counter-proposal to ensure a lasting resolution to all outstanding issues.
> “We have addressed every single request by ASUU; there is no need for this strike, and we are pleading with them to go back to school,” the minister said.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities had on Sunday declared a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike across all public universities in Nigeria. The union’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the decision during a press conference at the University of Abuja, citing the Federal Government’s failure to fulfill prior agreements as the reason behind the industrial action.
But Alausa strongly disagreed with the union’s claims, maintaining that the administration has fulfilled its commitments. He accused ASUU of pre-determining the strike despite ongoing negotiations and the government’s goodwill gestures.
> “I can tell you today, literally all the demands of ASUU have been met. So, I do not see any reason why ASUU has gone on this strike,” Alausa said.
“Even from Friday, I’ve been getting messages that ASUU had decided to strike, despite our continuous engagements. When you predetermine your action despite the government’s honest efforts, what more can be done?”
The minister disclosed that the government has released ₦50 billion to settle earned academic allowances and allocated ₦683 billion in the 2025 federal budget to upgrade tertiary education infrastructure across the country. The funds, he said, would cover the rehabilitation of hostels, lecture halls, laboratories, and workshops in federal universities.
Alausa further explained that part of the funds was earmarked for medical schools, academic staff training, and student welfare under various intervention schemes, including the National Education Reform Fund (NERF).
He, however, accused the union of causing delays in fund disbursement by insisting that the first tranche of the needs-assessment funds be paid directly to ASUU, excluding polytechnics and colleges of education.
> “It is ASUU that is holding those disbursements,” he alleged. “The funds are available, but their insistence on sole control has slowed down implementation.”
On the issue of withheld salaries from the previous prolonged strike, Alausa clarified that the government would not pay the entire backlog, citing earlier agreements that only partial payments would be made.
Reassuring students and parents, the minister urged ASUU to reconsider its stance and allow academic activities to continue without disruption.
“Let me reassure our students nationwide that the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, will do everything humanly possible to keep you in school,” Alausa said.
“I’m pleading with ASUU again to shelve this strike. There’s literally no need for it.”
Observers note that the Tinubu administration has prioritized educational funding and infrastructural development as part of its broader reforms to stabilize Nigeria’s academic system. However, the standoff with ASUU continues to test the government’s ability to balance fiscal responsibility with labor expectations in the education sector.
