Abuja, Nigeria – October 14, 2025 — The House of Representatives has announced its intention to intervene in the ongoing industrial dispute between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), following the union’s declaration of a two-week warning strike on Monday.
The move came after a motion was raised during plenary on Tuesday by Hon. Sesi Whingan, the lawmaker representing Badagry Federal Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to a report by Channels Television.
Whingan noted that the planned intervention by the House leadership aims to facilitate dialogue between both parties and to work towards a lasting solution to the persistent crisis that has plagued Nigeria’s public university system for years.
ASUU had declared a nationwide warning strike after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government to address a series of unmet demands. This marks the union’s first nationwide industrial action in nearly three years.
Key demands by the lecturers include:
- Implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement
- Payment of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries
- Revitalisation of public universities
- Sustainable funding for the tertiary education sector
- Payment of 25–35% salary arrears and promotion arrears spanning over four years
- Release of withheld cooperative and union deductions
Despite several efforts by past administrations, the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement has remained stalled since 2017. The most recent committee, chaired by former Head of Service Yayale Ahmed, submitted its report in December 2024, but the recommendations are yet to be implemented.
In response to the ongoing strike, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa has reportedly directed university vice-chancellors to enforce the government’s No Work, No Pay policy on striking lecturers.
The warning strike has already disrupted academic activities, including ongoing examinations, in several institutions across the country, sparking concerns over a potential full-blown shutdown of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Members of the House have pledged to engage both ASUU leadership and government representatives in the coming days to broker a resolution and prevent further disruption to the academic calendar.
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