The Federal Government has finally responded to growing fears of another nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), with the announcement of an Expanded Negotiation Committee and a ₦200 billion intervention plan to address long-standing issues in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
This development comes just days after ASUU confirmed it had begun mobilising members across the country for industrial action, following an unresolved 14-day ultimatum issued to the government.
The ultimatum, issued after ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Sunday, September 28, at the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), is in response to the government’s failure to meet previous agreements, including unpaid allowances, poor funding of universities, and unfulfilled promises dating back over a decade.
Speaking at a meeting of the Technical Working Group in Abuja on Wednesday, October 8, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the government was under strict orders from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure students remain in school while negotiations continue.
“The directive President Bola Tinubu gave us is that our children must be in school. We should do everything humanly possible to avert a strike,” Alausa said.
The Minister stressed that strike actions further damage the quality of education and disrupt the future of millions of Nigerian students.
In a move seen as a show of commitment, the Federal Government outlined a ₦200 billion intervention to revamp the tertiary education sector. This includes ₦50 billion released earlier in the year for earned academic allowances and ₦150 billion budgeted in the 2025 national budget for university revitalisation projects.
Dr Alausa revealed that the ₦150 billion will be released in three tranches of ₦50 billion each, with the first tranche already set aside.
“These are issues tertiary institutions have been demanding for almost 15 years,” he noted. “This President is taking action because he believes in the future of education.”
In addition to the funding, the Minister listed other achievements under the current administration, including:
Payment of promotion arrears for university staff
Implementation of the 25–25 wage award
Payment of teaching and responsibility allowances
Commitment to clear all outstanding arrears by 2026
One Committee for All Unions
To improve negotiation efficiency, the government has now merged all previous negotiation structures into one unified platform called the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institution Expanded Negotiation Committee.
Previously, separate committees handled issues for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Alausa said this approach created delays and miscommunication.
“Now we have one team that will talk to all unions — ASUU, ASUP, COEASU — to fully understand their needs and negotiate efficiently,” he said.
The Technical Working Group is expected to finalise the government’s counter-offer to ASUU and submit it to the committee within 48 hours.
The Minister made a direct appeal to ASUU and other university unions to remain patient and continue with peaceful dialogue instead of resorting to another strike.
“Don’t use strike as your first resort. We know these issues didn’t start yesterday. But the Tinubu administration is determined to end this cycle once and for all,” he pleaded.
Dr Alausa said the current government’s strategy is focused on sustainable solutions, recognising the sacrifices made by academic and non-academic staff over the years.
“We are building a structure that will not collapse after a few months. We want lasting peace in our schools,” he added.
ASUU has long clashed with the Federal Government over poor funding, unpaid entitlements, and unmet agreements. The union’s last major strike in 2022 lasted eight months, severely affecting academic calendars across public universities.
With ASUU now preparing for another round of protests, students and parents are once again anxious about the possibility of disrupted academic sessions.
