Tinubu Assures End to ASUU Strikes as Government Moves to Stabilise Tertiary Education
President Bola Tinubu has firmly declared that strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other trade unions in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector must never occur again, marking a bold shift in the federal government’s approach to academic stability. This was revealed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a live interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he emphasised the president’s directive and outlined ongoing reforms in the sector. According to Alausa, President Tinubu has instructed the education ministry and all relevant bodies to ensure that industrial actions disrupting academic calendars become a thing of the past. “Never again in this country should ASUU or any tertiary institution trade union go on strike,” he stated. The minister noted that Tinubu’s administration is focused on building trust and fostering ongoing dialogue with unions such as ASUU, COEASU, NASU, and SSANU to prevent disputes that lead to shutdowns. Dr. Alausa assured Nigerians that public tertiary institutions have remained operational over the past two years due to consistent engagement and the fulfillment of key government obligations. He also addressed concerns over delayed salaries for academic staff, confirming that efforts are underway in partnership with the Ministry of Finance to ensure timely payments going forward. In addition, the federal government has launched a new initiative called the “Bridge Project” to involve Nigerian professionals at home and abroad in strengthening the education sector. The initiative will offer logistics support for experts to contribute to teaching and research in public institutions, even without monetary compensation. The move to eliminate strike actions is seen as a strategic effort by the Tinubu administration to revive the education system, rebuild credibility, and ensure continuous academic progress in Nigeria’s universities, colleges, and polytechnics.
