The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned of a looming confrontation with the Federal Government, noting that unresolved issues between both sides could lead to Disruption of the academic calendar in 2025. Regarding the relative stability experienced in 2024, ASUU stressed that the uninterrupted academic calendar was the outcome of the union’s sacrifices and dedication to keeping students’ Education on track, not a sign of state efficiency. ASUU leadership issued a statement expressing the union’s dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s inaction on important issues impacting university staff and the larger academic community.
Key among these issues is the government’s persistent delays in enforcing agreements with the union, the lack of funding for public universities, the non-implementation of the renegotiated agreement led by Nimi Briggs, and controversial pay structures that continue to lower academic staff morale nationwide. ASUU stated that the 2024 sacrifices were motivated by its aim to reduce interruptions for students, many of whom had already experienced years of academic instability as a result of earlier strikes.
Federal government urged to keep to its words.
However, the union cautioned that its patience and forbearance should not be interpreted as weakness. It emphasized that prolonged confrontation would be unavoidable in 2025 if the Federal Government continued to disregard its obligations. The union also criticized the government for putting political expenses ahead of the future of the country’s youth and chastised it for what it saw as its lack of interest in higher education. It also bemoaned the problems surrounding IPPIS and UTAS systems, underpaid allowances, inadequate implementation of visitation panel reports, and the underfunding of public universities.
According to ASUU, the government’s reluctance to make adequate investments in education is a sign of a larger structural inability to acknowledge the transformative power of Higher Education in the advancement of the country. The leadership of ASUU reaffirmed its demand that the government should keep its word, especially when it comes to implementing agreements pertaining to better working conditions, and financing for Infrastructure and research. ASUU claims that these problems must be resolved in order to restore trust in Nigeria’s public universities and guarantee that the nation’s educational standards are in line with international norms.
Majority are worried about possible academic disruption.
Students and parents who often bore the brunt of clashes between ASUU and the Federal Government, have responded with mixed reactions. Majority are worried about the possible effects of yet another round of disruptions on academic calendars and professional advancement. Many parents and students had hoped that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration would successfully end the decades-long cycle of strikes that have afflicted Nigeria’s higher education system, but their confidence has been shaken by ASUU’s recent warning about possible disruptions in 2025.
Many have already given the administration credit for ending the impasse between ASUU and the Federal Government that had previously hampered the academic calendar, as evidenced by the lack of Strike Action in 2024. This optimism increased as the 2024 school calendar went on without any disruptions—a stark contrast to the regular strikes that marked previous years. However, the revelation of possible disruption has caused many to reevaluate their initial optimism. The seeming quiet is now seen by some as a short-term respite rather than a true solution to the structural problems plaguing public colleges.
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All eyes are on the Federal Government to see how it will react as ASUU reiterates that it is prepared to take action if its demands are not met. President Tinubu’s ability to maintain his perceived educational achievement or the possibility of public university closures in Nigeria will be decided in the upcoming months as the new year unfolds. Majority hope that sincere dialogue and mutual commitment will prevent the possibility of another academic disruption, enabling students to continue their education uninterrupted and providing lecturers with the conditions necessary to perform their duties effectively.