ASUU Strike Tests Tinubu’s Promise to End Campus Crises

By Bola Adeyemi

For the first time since President Bola Tinubu took office, Nigeria’s tertiary education system faces its toughest test yet.

On Monday, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began a two-week warning strike, shutting down academic activities across public universities and reviving old tensions between lecturers and the Federal Government.

This strike poses a major test for President Tinubu, who vowed in May 2023 that there would be no ASUU strike under his administration. That promise now hangs in the balance.

Government, Union Trade Blame

The Federal Government on Monday announced a no-work-no-pay directive for striking lecturers — a move ASUU described as a “declaration of war.”

ASUU’s President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said the government failed to act on time, despite being given a 14-day ultimatum and an additional three-week grace period to address key demands, including the 2009 agreement on university revitalisation funds.

“The problem we have with this government and this Ministry of Education is that they are slow in responding to our demands,” Piwuna said. “Our 2009 agreement — which has been under renegotiation for eight years — remains inconclusive. Two days before a strike, they come to appeal to us. That appeal came too late.”

Education Minister Prof. Tunji Alausa insisted that government efforts were ongoing. He said N50 billion had been released for Earned Academic Allowances, while N150 billion had been included in the 2025 budget for university needs. He also noted that the Yayale Ahmed-led negotiation committee had been reconstituted to fast-track talks with unions.

Old Wounds, New Realities

The strike rekindles memories of the 2022 eight-month ASUU strike that crippled universities nationwide. Since the 2009 MoU between ASUU and the Federal Government — worth N1.2 trillion for university revitalisation — successive administrations have failed to meet funding commitments.

Between 2009 and 2024, the number of Nigerian universities grew from 170 to 274, including 74 federal, 67 state, and 159 private institutions. Yet, quality and funding have declined. Experts argue that expansion without sustainable investment has worsened underfunding and poor learning conditions.

Despite setting a moratorium, the Tinubu administration has approved 12 new tertiary institutions in under two years, raising questions about priorities amid fiscal strain.

Education in Crisis

Nigeria’s education budget remains far below global standards. While UNICEF recommends allocating 20–25% of national expenditure to education, Nigeria’s federal allocation has averaged between 3% and 7%.

This chronic underfunding has triggered poor salaries, brain drain, and deteriorating infrastructure. Former University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe disclosed that 239 first-class graduates employed by UNILAG left within six years over poor pay. ASUU said 309 professors resigned in the last nine months alone.

Tinubu’s Dilemma

Tinubu’s administration faces a tough balancing act: addressing ASUU’s financial demands amid economic constraints, while defending recent big-ticket government spending. Critics point to billions spent on renovating the Vice-President’s lodge, purchasing SUVs for lawmakers, and funding luxury jets — funds they argue could have revitalised public universities.

The President has an opportunity to reset priorities by meeting ASUU halfway and proposing a supplementary education budget. Anything less risks eroding public trust in his promise to stabilise the university system.

A Defining Moment

Strikes have long disrupted Nigeria’s higher education, delaying graduations, hurting research output, and worsening youth unemployment. Ending this cycle demands political will, transparency, and accountability from both sides.

For President Tinubu, keeping his word that “there will be no ASUU strike” is not just a campaign soundbite — it’s a defining test of leadership. His response in the coming days will shape his legacy in education reform and determine whether Nigerian universities can finally reclaim global relevance.