For the first time in recent history, Nigerian public universities have completed two uninterrupted academic sessions without any strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
This development follows the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, 2023. Since then, federal universities have operated without disruptions from ASUU, a notable contrast to previous years, which were marked by frequent strikes.
Under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, ASUU embarked on multiple strikes, including a notable eight-month industrial action in 2022, which severely disrupted academic calendars and extended students’ time in universities.
The current administration has addressed longstanding issues between the government and university staff.
In October 2023, President Tinubu approved the payment of four months’ withheld salaries to ASUU members, partially lifting the “No Work, No Pay” policy implemented during the 2022 strike.
Furthermore, in April 2025, the Federal Government disbursed ₦50 billion to settle outstanding earned allowances owed to academic and non-academic staff in federal universities.
While ASUU has not initiated strike actions since May 2023, other university unions have expressed grievances.
In October 2024, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) commenced an indefinite strike over unpaid salaries dating back to the 2022 industrial action.
These unions argue that, despite presidential directives, their members have not received the approved payments, leading to nationwide shutdowns of non-academic university activities.
Despite these challenges, the absence of ASUU strikes has allowed students to progress through their academic programmes without the usual interruptions, offering stability in the nation’s higher education landscape.
Leave feedback about this