The Federal Government has announced that it has met “every request” presented by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and appealed to university lecturers to resume academic activities, stressing that there is no justification for any strike action.
“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. We need to keep our children in school. If there is any group of people that I have met with the most since I assumed this position, it is ASUU,” said the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday.
Alausa dismissed suggestions that the government has been slow or unresponsive to ASUU’s demands, insisting that such claims were unfounded. He explained that President Bola Tinubu has maintained his pledge to engage constructively and fairly with labour unions to ensure lasting industrial harmony in the education sector.
The minister further noted that the current administration has taken concrete steps to improve funding and infrastructure in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, underscoring its determination to strengthen the higher education system and prevent disruptions to the academic calendar.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to sustaining dialogue with stakeholders in the education sector while urging ASUU members to prioritize students’ academic progress by returning to the classroom.
What You Should Know
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is a powerful body representing lecturers in Nigeria’s public universities.
Over the years, the union has frequently clashed with the government over issues such as funding, salaries, and working conditions.
The latest appeal from the Federal Government suggests ongoing efforts to stabilize the education sector and prevent another prolonged shutdown of academic activities across the country.
