The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has pledged that the federal government will put an end to the recurring strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other trade unions in the education sector.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Alausa revealed that President Bola Tinubu has given a firm directive to prevent further industrial actions in tertiary institutions.
“The President has made it clear—never again should ASUU or any tertiary institution union go on strike,” Alausa stated. He emphasized that the current administration is adopting a proactive approach built on consistent engagement and trust-building, setting it apart from previous governments.
“It’s not just about making promises. We are focusing on developing strong relationships and fulfilling our commitments to these unions,” the minister added.
ASUU has historically embarked on strikes to demand improved welfare, adequate funding for universities, and institutional autonomy. These frequent disruptions have significantly affected academic calendars, delayed graduations, caused student discontent, and contributed to brain drain and declining educational standards.
One of the most prolonged strikes took place between February 14 and October 14, 2022—an eight-month stalemate triggered by the federal government’s failure to implement aspects of a 2009 agreement. The union’s demands included revitalization funding, earned allowances, and rejection of the controversial Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in favor of their own University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
The 2022 strike exemplified the long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s public university system, often leaving students, parents, and institutions in uncertainty and underlining the risk of future crises.
Dr. Alausa also addressed concerns over recent salary delays for tertiary institution staff, offering an apology and reassurance. He said he is working closely with the Minister of Finance to ensure more timely salary disbursements.
“I sincerely apologise to all affected staff. We are working to ensure salaries are paid earlier in the month—ideally before month-end. The Finance Minister has assured me this will be resolved,” he said.
Earlier in July, ASUU instructed members in some branches to withhold services due to non-payment of June salaries. ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, warned that the union could escalate its actions if July salaries were also delayed.
The delay has been linked to the federal government’s decision to exempt academic institutions from the IPPIS platform, a system ASUU has consistently opposed. The union argued that IPPIS undermines university autonomy and fails to reflect the unique nature of academic work.
Following sustained advocacy, the Federal Executive Council eventually approved the adoption of UTAS, ASUU’s preferred payment platform, which the union claims offers better flexibility and aligns with university operations.
