Minister of Education Tunji Alausa on July 29, 2025, announced that President Bola Tinubu has instructed his administration to prevent the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions from embarking on strikes.
Speaking at a press briefing, Alausa emphasized the government’s commitment to dialogue, citing ongoing negotiations to address ASUU’s demands, including better funding, improved infrastructure, and the release of withheld salaries from the 2022 eight-month strike. He warned that any strike action would disrupt the academic calendar, affecting over 1.5 million students, and promised swift action on a ₦200 billion revitalization fund pledged in 2023 but only partially disbursed.
The directive follows a history of industrial unrest, with ASUU threatening action over unmet agreements, including a ₦1.15 trillion funding gap per the Needs Assessment Report. The ministry plans to establish a tripartite committee with university leaders and laboUr, but ASUU’s leadership has yet to respond, hinting at skepticism from past broken promises.
The narrative of strike prevention is ambitious, aiming to stabilize education, but its success hinges on tangible progress, with critics arguing the government’s approach may lack enforceability without addressing root causes like chronic underfunding.