The Federal Government has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities to suspend its ongoing strike, saying it has met “every single request” made by the union and given it a formal counter-proposal.
Speaking to newsmen, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa said the government has engaged ASUU repeatedly since he took office and that there is no justification for the industrial action.
“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.
ASUU on Sunday declared a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike across all public universities in Nigeria over the FG’s failure to meet its demands.
The announcement was made by the National President of the Union, Chris Piwuna, at an ongoing press briefing in Abuja on Sunday at the University of Abuja.
But the minister said claims that the government has been slow or unwilling to respond to the union’s demands were incorrect.
Alausa assured students and parents that FG is doing everything to avert the strike.
“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.
Alausa outlined a long list of interventions by the Tinubu administration, including what he said is a N683 billion infrastructure allocation for federal tertiary institutions in the 2025 budget, intended to rehabilitate hostels, lecture theatres, laboratories and workshops.
He added that the government has also mobilised funds for medical schools, academic staff training and student support through NERF and other programmes.
The minister accused ASUU leaders of contributing to delays in disbursing the needs-assessment money by insisting that the entire first tranche be paid only to the union, rather than shared with polytechnics and colleges of education.
On promotion arrears, third-party deductions and other outstanding items, Alausa said most issues have been addressed or restored, and that some matters fall under the purview of individual universities.
He also reiterated the government’s position that the three and a half months withheld during the union’s previous prolonged strike will not be paid in full, saying prior agreements covered partial payments.
The minister appealed directly to the union and to parents. “We need to keep our children in school,” he said. “This strike should not have gone on at all… I am pleading with ASUU again to shelve this strike.”
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