The Federal Government has called on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its ongoing two-week warning strike, insisting that it has met every one of the union’s demands and provided a formal counter-proposal.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the appeal on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, stressing 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,” Alausa said.
ASUU on Sunday declared a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike across all public universities, citing the government’s failure to fulfil its promises. The decision was announced by ASUU National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, during a press conference at the University of Abuja.
However, Alausa dismissed the claim, saying the Tinubu administration has demonstrated sincerity and commitment to addressing the union’s concerns.
“I can tell you today, literally all the demands of ASUU have been met. So I do not see any reason why ASUU has gone on this strike,” he stated.
According to him, the government has paid ₦50 billion in earned academic allowances and budgeted ₦683 billion for infrastructure in federal tertiary institutions in 2025 to rehabilitate hostels, lecture theatres, laboratories, and workshops.
He added that the government has also released funds for medical schools, academic staff training, and student support programmes, but alleged that delays in disbursement of needs-assessment funds were caused by ASUU’s insistence that the first tranche be paid only to the union.
“It is ASUU that is holding those disbursements,” Alausa said, urging the union to allow the funds to reach the institutions directly.
The minister further noted that most issues related to promotion arrears and third-party deductions have been addressed, while others fall under the purview of university governing councils.
He reaffirmed that the federal government will not pay the full backlog of salaries withheld during ASUU’s previous strike, as earlier agreements only covered partial payments.
Appealing directly to parents and students, Alausa said:
“We need to keep our children in school. This strike should not have gone on at all. I am pleading with ASUU again to shelve this strike.”
The two-week strike, according to ASUU, is intended as a warning to the government to address all outstanding issues or face a more extensive industrial action.
