The appeal came as ASUU, led by its President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, announced a two-week total strike beginning Monday, October 13, 2025, after the expiration of its earlier ultimatum to the government. The union, embarking on what would be its 18th strike in 26 years, accused the Federal Government of failing to implement previous agreements and of neglecting its seven-point demand covering funding, working conditions, and institutional autonomy.
However, the government, through the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment” to dialogue and urged the union to reconsider its stance. In a statement signed by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations, the ministry disclosed that the Federal Government had presented a comprehensive offer addressing ASUU’s major concerns, including improved conditions of service, governance reforms, and enhanced welfare packages.
According to the statement, the Tinubu administration has already approved a robust teaching allowance aimed at motivating lecturers and reflecting the true value of academic work. The ministers emphasised that while the government remains open to engagement, the principle of ‘no work, no pay’ remains an extant labour policy and will guide its actions if academic activities are disrupted nationwide.
“All matters relating to the review of conditions of service have been duly addressed, except those within the purview of individual university governing councils, which are actively being handled,” the statement read. “The Federal Government remains open to continued engagement once ASUU’s formal response to its offer is received.”
Meanwhile, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has distanced itself from the industrial action. Its National President, Dr. ‘Niyi Sunmonu, said CONUA has no dispute with the government and sees no basis for a strike, given the ongoing discussions between the Federal Government and the Yayale Ahmed Renegotiation Committee.
Sources within the Ministry of Education told The Guardian that the government’s negotiation team, led temporarily by Senator Lekan Tejuoso in the absence of Dr. Yayale Ahmed, had scheduled a last-minute meeting with ASUU over the weekend to avert the strike. The government claims that the union declined the request for a physical meeting, citing unavailability of its representatives.
A senior official familiar with the talks described the strike as “pre-planned and avoidable,” accusing ASUU of acting in bad faith despite “clear goodwill from the government.”
“The President had given the go-ahead for concessions, and the negotiating panel was ready. Unfortunately, ASUU walked away from dialogue,” the source said.
The government insists that the strike undermines the renewed efforts of the Tinubu administration, which recently reconstituted and expanded the 53-member renegotiation panel to fast-track a lasting resolution to issues affecting university staff.
ASUU’s latest industrial action adds to a long history of strikes since 1999, often driven by disputes over university funding, staff welfare, and implementation of previous agreements. Past actions occurred in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and nearly every subsequent year up to 2022, cumulatively disrupting the nation’s academic calendar and affecting millions of students.
As both sides dig in, attention now turns to whether the Federal Government and ASUU can find common ground — and finally end the decades-long cycle of industrial unrest in Nigeria’s university system.