The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has assured Nigerians that the federal government is determined to bring an end to recurring strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other education sector unions.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Alausa revealed that President Bola Tinubu has firmly instructed that the era of academic disruptions through industrial actions must end.
“President Tinubu has clearly mandated that strikes in tertiary institutions must become a thing of the past,” the minister stated.
“Going forward, we will not allow ASUU or any educational trade union to shut down the system.”
He emphasized that the administration intends to achieve this goal through consistent dialogue, strong engagement with union leaders, and a sincere effort to address their legitimate concerns.
Although all union demands have not yet been fully met, Alausa said the government is actively working to respond to them.
Over the years, ASUU has embarked on numerous strikes demanding improved funding for universities, better remuneration for lecturers, and institutional autonomy.
These repeated industrial actions have caused severe disruptions in Nigeria’s public university system.
The disruptions include delaying academic calendars, hindering graduations, and fueling brain drain among academic staff.
The frequent shutdowns have also had a negative impact on the overall quality of education and national human capital development.
One of the most notable industrial actions lasted from February 14 to October 14, 2022, an eight-month stalemate that stemmed from the government’s failure to implement a long-standing 2009 agreement.
The unresolved issues included revitalization funding for public universities and unpaid academic allowances.
ASUU also rejected the federal government’s Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
It advocated instead for their own payment platform, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
This extended strike, like many before it, underscored the chronic instability in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
It left students, parents, and university staff in a state of prolonged uncertainty and highlighted the urgent need for structural reforms.
In the same interview, Minister Alausa offered a public apology to university staff for the recent delays in salary payments.
He expressed regret over the hardship caused and pledged that such delays would soon be resolved through collaboration with the Ministry of Finance.
“I want to sincerely apologise to our lecturers and staff in tertiary institutions,” he said.
“We understand the difficulties late payments cause, and we’re committed to resolving them.
The Minister of Finance has assured me that this issue is being addressed, and we aim to start processing payments earlier, ideally before the end of each month.”
Earlier this month, ASUU had directed members in branches where June salaries were unpaid to stay away from work.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, warned that the union would escalate matters if July payments were also delayed.
The salary delays were linked to the federal government’s decision to exclude universities from the IPPIS platform.
ASUU had long criticized IPPIS, arguing it undermines university autonomy and fails to accommodate the complexities of academic work.
After prolonged disputes, the Federal Executive Council eventually approved the use of UTAS, the platform proposed by ASUU as a more suitable alternative.
Meanwhile, the minister also unveiled a forward-looking programme designed to bridge the gap between Nigerian institutions and academic professionals abroad.
Dubbed the Bridge Initiative, the digital platform aims to connect diasporan experts with local universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and research institutions.
“This initiative leverages technology to enable structured collaboration between our diaspora professionals and local tertiary institutions,” Alausa explained.
“Both parties, diaspora professionals and institutions, will register on the platform.
“It operates in a hybrid format, allowing for both virtual and in-person engagements.”
Participants in the initiative, who will serve as volunteers, will have their travel and accommodation expenses covered by the federal government.
“The government will bear the cost of your airfare, lodging, meals, and transportation while you’re in Nigeria.
“We won’t pay stipends, because this is voluntary, but we’ll provide every necessary support,” the minister clarified.
He added that the initiative is also open to professionals within Nigeria who are willing to offer their services voluntarily.
This signals an inclusive approach to revitalizing higher education through expert input and collaborative efforts.
