The Federal Government has declared that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has no justification for its ongoing two-week warning strike, insisting that every demand made by the union has been fully met.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he described the strike as unnecessary and premeditated.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that the Tinubu administration has addressed every single request by ASUU, urging the union to call off its industrial action immediately.
“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,” he said.
The warning strike, declared on Sunday by ASUU President Prof. Chris Piwuna, affects all public universities nationwide.
The union accused the government of failing to implement earlier agreements despite a 14-day ultimatum that expired on October 13.
“Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight on Monday, the 13th October, 2025,” Piwuna said during a press briefing at the University of Abuja.
Government Defends Record on Education Funding
Dr. Alausa dismissed claims that the Federal Government has been slow or unwilling to meet ASUU’s conditions, describing them as “incorrect and unfair.”
He maintained that the Tinubu administration has demonstrated genuine commitment to revitalizing the tertiary education system. “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,” he said.
According to the minister, the administration has engaged the union “repeatedly and transparently” since he assumed office, but ASUU appeared determined to proceed with industrial action regardless of government efforts.
“We had feelings that, despite us negotiating with them in good faith, truthfully, they were determined to go on this strike,” he noted.
Breakdown of Government Commitments
Alausa outlined the scope of federal interventions, highlighting a N683 billion allocation in the 2025 budget for tertiary institution infrastructure.
The funds, he said, are intended for the rehabilitation of hostels, laboratories, lecture theatres, and workshops across federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
He also disclosed that the government has mobilized funding through the National Education Revival Fund (NERF) to support medical schools, staff development, and student assistance programs.
“We’ve literally addressed every single issue that ASUU is requesting. The areas of their earned academic allowance, we’ve paid N50 billion,” he added.
ASUU Accused of Blocking Disbursement
In a counterclaim, the minister alleged that ASUU itself is responsible for delays in disbursing part of the government’s needs-assessment funds.
He said the union insisted that the entire first tranche of the money be paid exclusively to universities, excluding polytechnics and colleges of education.
“It is ASUU that is holding those disbursements,” Alausa asserted, urging the union to allow funds to reach all tertiary institutions.
Addressing Other Outstanding Issues
On promotion arrears, third-party deductions, and other unresolved payments, the education minister stated that most issues have either been cleared or reassigned to the management of individual universities.
He clarified that the government will not release the full three-and-a-half months’ salaries withheld during ASUU’s last prolonged strike, saying partial payments were already agreed upon.
Dr. Alausa reiterated that the government has acted in “good faith and full transparency,” warning that repeated disruptions to academic calendars undermine Nigeria’s education system.
He said the administration remains focused on improving conditions in higher education and ensuring stability across campuses.
FG Appeals to Students and Parents
Reaching out directly to students and their families, the minister urged calm and patience, assuring them that the government will “do everything humanly possible” to keep schools open.
“Let me reassure our students nationwide that the federal government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, will do everything humanly possible to keep you in school,” he said.
He also appealed to parents to prevail on ASUU to reconsider its stance, emphasizing that students have suffered enough from repeated strikes.
“We need to keep our children in school. This strike should not have gone on at all… I am pleading with ASUU again to shelve this strike,” Alausa concluded.
Government-Union Standoff Deepens
The standoff between ASUU and the Federal Government reflects an enduring pattern of mistrust that has plagued Nigeria’s university system for decades.
While the government insists it has fulfilled its obligations, ASUU continues to demand concrete implementation of agreements, citing a history of unfulfilled promises.
For now, the government’s claim that “every demand has been met” sets the stage for another chapter in the long-running battle over university funding and autonomy in Nigeria.
