ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Education to resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) without delay, as the administration seeks to avert prolonged disruption in the academic calendar and keep students in school.
The directive was disclosed by Minister of Education Tunji Alausa following a meeting with the President.
Alausa said Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to preventing further industrial action in universities, describing sustained academic activity as critical to national development.
“The president has mandated us that he doesn’t want ASUU to go on strike, and we’re doing everything humanly possible to ensure that our students stay in school,” the minister said.
He insisted that the federal government had met most of ASUU’s demands and that the recent six-day strike was unnecessary.
“We have resumed talks with the leadership of ASUU,” he added, noting concessions made to ease tensions.
In a significant shift in policy, Alausa announced the consolidation of the federal government’s negotiation framework for tertiary institutions.
Previously, separate committees engaged ASUU for universities, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) for polytechnics, and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) for colleges of education.
“What we’ve done now is to expand one single committee,” Alausa said, referring to the Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Negotiating Committee for Tertiary Institutions.
The committee, he explained, will now handle negotiations with both academic and non-academic unions across federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Alausa also dismissed reports that the government had issued a four-week ultimatum to ASUU.
Instead, he stressed that discussions remain ongoing, saying the administration is “actively listening and committed to resolving the issues.”
ASUU has repeatedly clashed with successive governments over salary arrears, promotion backlogs, funding for university revitalisation and academic autonomy — issues that have historically triggered prolonged strikes. Although recent stoppages have been shorter, they have continued to disrupt academic schedules and heighten student frustration.
Tinubu’s directive signals an effort to move toward a more coordinated and sustained approach to university industrial relations.
