FG says ASUU strike unnecessary, claims all demands met

The Federal Government has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its ongoing strike, asserting that it has met “every single request” made by the union and submitted a formal counter-proposal.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa said the government has engaged ASUU repeatedly since he took office and sees 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 stated.

ASUU had declared a two-week warning strike across all public universities in Nigeria, citing the government’s failure to meet its demands. The announcement was made on Sunday by the union’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, at a press briefing in Abuja.

He directed all ASUU branches to withdraw services starting midnight on Monday, October 13, 2025, describing the strike as “total and comprehensive.”

Responding, Alausa rejected claims that the government had been slow or unwilling to act, saying, “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 noted that even in areas like end-of-academic allowances, the government had disbursed N50 billion.

The minister reassured students and parents that the government, under President Bola Tinubu, is doing everything possible to prevent disruptions in learning.

He outlined interventions including a N683 billion infrastructure allocation for federal tertiary institutions in the 2025 budget to rehabilitate hostels, lecture theatres, laboratories, and workshops.

Funds have also been mobilised for medical schools, academic staff training, and student support through NERF and other programmes.

Alausa accused ASUU leaders of delaying the release of needs-assessment funds by insisting that the first tranche be paid entirely to the union instead of sharing it with polytechnics and colleges of education.

On outstanding issues such as promotion arrears, third-party deductions, and other payments, he said most have been addressed, while some remain under the authority of individual universities.

He reiterated that the three and a half months withheld during the union’s previous prolonged strike will not be fully paid, in line with prior agreements.

Appealing directly to ASUU and parents, 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.”