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 addressed all of the union’s demands.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made the appeal on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, stating that the government has met “every single request” made by ASUU and submitted a formal counter-proposal.
“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 had on Sunday declared a two-week total and comprehensive strike across all public universities in Nigeria over what it described as the Federal Government’s failure to honour its promises.
The National President of the Union, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the strike at a press briefing in Abuja, directing all branches to withdraw their services from midnight, Monday, October 13, 2025.
“Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight on Monday, the 13th October, 2025. The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last NEC meeting,” Piwuna said.
But Alausa dismissed the union’s claims, saying the government had negotiated in good faith and released significant funds to address their concerns.
“I can tell you today, literally all the demands of ASU have been met. We’ve paid ₦50 billion in earned academic allowances. I do not see any reason why ASU has gone on this strike,” the minister said.
He added that the Tinubu administration had allocated ₦683 billion in the 2025 budget for infrastructure in federal tertiary institutions, including the rehabilitation of hostels, lecture halls, laboratories, and workshops.
Alausa further explained that the government has also mobilised funds for medical schools, staff training, and student support through the National Education Revitalisation Fund (NERF) and other programmes.
The minister accused ASUU of contributing to delays in the disbursement of the needs-assessment funds by insisting that the first tranche be paid solely to universities, excluding polytechnics and colleges of education.
“It is ASUU that is holding those disbursements,” he claimed, urging the union to allow the funds to reach all institutions.
On the issue of promotion arrears, third-party deductions, and outstanding allowances, Alausa said most have been resolved, while others fall under the purview of individual university managements.
He reiterated that the government would not pay in full the three and a half months of withheld salaries from the previous strike, citing prior agreements for partial settlement.
Reassuring students and parents, Alausa said the Tinubu-led administration remains committed to preventing further disruptions in the academic calendar.
“Let me reassure our students nationwide that the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, will do everything humanly possible to keep you in school,” he said. “I am pleading with ASUU again to shelve this strike. There’s literally no need for it.”
