The Federal Government on Monday urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities to suspend its ongoing strike, saying it has met “every single request” made by the union and given it 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 that there is 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 said.
ASUU on Sunday declared a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike across all public universities in Nigeria over the FG’s failure to meet its demands.
The announcement was made by the National President of the Union, Prof. Chris Piwuna, at an ongoing press briefing in Abuja on Sunday at the University of Abuja.
“Compatriots of the press, it goes without saying that there is nothing sufficient on the ground to stop the implementation of the ASUU-NEC’s resolution to embark on a two-week warning strike at the expiry of the 14-day notice given on the 28th September 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 the minister said claims that the government has been slow or unwilling to respond to the union’s demands were incorrect.
“I can tell you today, literally all the demands of ASUU have been met. So I do not see any reason why ASU has gone on this strike.
“We had feelings that, despite us negotiating with them in good faith, truthfully, they were determined to go on this strike. Even from Friday, I’ve been getting text messages that ASUU has decided to go on strike. And when you do that, when you predetermine your action, despite every goodwill, all gestures of the government to you, what do you really want?
“We’ve literally addressed every single issue that ASUU is requesting. The areas of their end academic allowance, we’ve paid 50 billion.”
Alausa assured students and parents that FG is doing everything to avert the strike.
“Let me reassure our students nationwide that the federal government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, will do everything humanly possible to keep you in school.
“Let me also reassure our parents, the parents of our students, that we’re doing everything humanly possible to keep your children in school.
“I’m going to use this medium to plead with ASU again to shelve this strike. There’s literally no need for this strike,” he added.
Alausa outlined a long list of interventions by the Tinubu administration, including what he said is a N683 billion infrastructure allocation for federal tertiary institutions in the 2025 budget, intended to rehabilitate hostels, lecture theatres, laboratories and workshops.
He added that the government has also mobilised funds for medical schools, academic staff training and student support through NERF and other programmes.
The minister accused ASUU leaders of contributing to delays in disbursing the needs-assessment money by insisting that the entire first tranche be paid only to the union, rather than shared with polytechnics and colleges of education.
“It is ASUU that is holding those disbursements,” Alausa said, urging the union to allow the funds to reach institutions.
On promotion arrears, third-party deductions and other outstanding items, Alausa said most issues have been addressed or restored, and that some matters fall under the purview of individual universities.
He also reiterated the government’s position that the three and a half months withheld during the union’s previous prolonged strike will not be paid in full, saying prior agreements covered partial payments.
The minister appealed directly to the union and to parents. “We need to keep our children in school,” he said. “This strike should not have gone on at all… I am pleading with ASUU again to shelve this strike.”