A Critical Moment for Nigeria’s Tertiary Education System
Nigeria’s tertiary education system is facing its most significant challenge yet under the Bola Tinubu administration. On Monday, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) initiated a two-week warning strike, halting academic activities in public institutions across the country. This move has placed President Tinubu and Education Minister Tunji Alausa under intense pressure to address the growing tensions between lecturers and the government.
At the start of his administration in May 2023, Tinubu made a promise that there would be no ASUU strikes during his tenure. That pledge now appears to be in jeopardy. The President must act swiftly to demonstrate the wisdom and leadership he is known for, in order to prevent a full-scale strike that could once again disrupt the university system.
The current situation reflects deepening rifts between the lecturers and the government. In response to the strike, the Federal Government introduced a “no-work-no-pay” policy for striking ASUU members. For the union, this directive is seen as a declaration of war. Critics argue that the decision is hasty and risks further widening the divide between the two sides.
A warning strike should have been the last resort. For the government, meaningful dialogue and a willingness to address ASUU’s demands remain the more effective path forward. It is worth noting that ASUU had previously refrained from striking, in line with Tinubu’s promise of no strikes during his term. However, the ongoing warning strike undermines that commitment.
Nigeria cannot afford another disruptive university strike after years of instability in higher education. The sector has already suffered from wasted time and resources, affecting both staff and students. The warning strike is linked to the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ASUU and the Federal Government, which outlined a N1.2 trillion revitalization plan for universities. Successive governments have failed to honor this agreement.
In recent developments, Education Minister Tunji Alausa stated that the government is addressing ASUU’s demands and that progress is being made through ongoing negotiations. He mentioned that N50 billion has been allocated for Earned Academic Allowances, with an additional N150 billion included in the 2025 budget for needs assessments.
Alausa also highlighted the reconstitution of the Yayale Ahmed-led Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee, which aims to fast-track discussions with academic and non-academic unions. However, ASUU criticized the government’s last-minute intervention, arguing that it came too late.
ASUU President Chris Piwuna expressed frustration with the slow response from the government. He pointed out that the union was given three weeks to raise its concerns, but received no communication until the deadline expired. The union felt that the government’s appeal to suspend the strike came too late, just two workdays before the planned action.
This pattern of delayed responses and uncoordinated strategies has raised concerns about the government’s approach to resolving the crisis. The handling of the strike suggests a lack of seriousness in addressing the long-standing issues in the university system. Since the 2009 MoU, successive governments have consistently failed to release the agreed-upon N220 billion per year, leading to repeated protests by ASUU.
Instead of investing in the existing universities, the government has continued to establish new institutions, many of which are poorly equipped. This trend has persisted under previous administrations, including those of Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari. Tinubu has spent over two years without finding a solution to the ASUU crisis.
The president recently claimed that Nigeria now has 274 universities, up from 170 in 2009. However, the number of institutions means little if they are not functioning effectively. Currently, there are 74 federal universities, 67 state-run universities, and 159 private institutions. Under the Tinubu administration, at least 12 new public tertiary institutions were established within two years, often for political reasons.
Despite these expansions, Nigerian universities continue to suffer from chronic underfunding. Lecturers are grossly underpaid, leading to a brain drain as top talent moves abroad. Former university vice-chancellors have highlighted the issue of poor pay, with some noting that even gardeners in the US earn more than Nigerian professors.
Strikes have proven harmful to the university system, disrupting academic calendars, hindering global collaboration, and degrading the quality of education. They also place financial burdens on students and their families. Decades of neglect by federal and state governments are evident in the low budget allocations for education. While UNICEF recommends spending 20-25% of the budget on education, Nigeria’s federal allocation has remained between 3.0 and 7.0%.
All three tiers of government must work together to revitalize the education sector. The Tinubu administration should prioritize education and consider a supplementary budget to meet ASUU’s demands. The National Assembly must stop treating tertiary education as a mere constituency project.
Nigeria lags in STEM education, innovation, and industrialization due to poor investments in higher education. This must change under Tinubu’s leadership. The government should also audit public tertiary institutions and merge them where necessary to optimize resources.
Tinubu’s promise to prevent strikes during his tenure is more than a pledge—it is a commitment to transform the Nigerian university system. Fulfilling this promise would be the greatest legacy he could leave.
