Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Government to prevent any further strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary institution unions across the country.
Alausa made the disclosure during an interview on Politics Today on Tuesday, stressing the administration’s commitment to maintaining industrial harmony in the education sector.
“The President has directed that not again in this country will ASUU or tertiary institution trade unions go on strike,” Alausa stated.
He added that the government is engaging regularly with ASUU, the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) to build lasting relationships and honour previous agreements.
“It’s not just about promises, it’s about relationship building,” he said. “That’s what was missing in the past — governments would reach agreements and then renege. This administration is doing things differently.”
Alausa also dismissed rumours of an impending nationwide strike in the tertiary education sector, insisting the Federal Government is fulfilling its obligations to the unions.
He cited ongoing reforms under the Tinubu administration, noting that Nigerian public universities are now gaining global recognition in academic rankings.
The minister’s remarks follow the recent decision by ASUU at Yobe State University to end its strike action. Branch Chairman Ahmed Karage said the union reached a Memorandum of Understanding with the Yobe State Government, prompting the national leadership of ASUU to approve the suspension of the strike.
Karage urged members of the university’s academic staff to resume duties immediately.
