Alumni Raise Alarm: FG Must Act Now to Prevent ASUU Strike
In a press statement issued to the media, the alumni group said the recurring standoff between ASUU and federal authorities poses a serious threat to students’ education and the integrity of Nigeria’s university system. The statement urged the government to urgently address all unresolved issues that fuel lecturers’ industrial action.
ASUU recently delivered a 14-day ultimatum to the government, demanding resolution of its seven-point demands or risk a two-week warning strike that could escalate into a full, indefinite shutdown of public universities.
The lecturers’ demands include renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, sustainable funding for universities, a revitalisation plan for institutions, payment of outstanding salary arrears, promotion arrears, and remittance of third-party deductions.
While the government has indicated willingness to negotiate, stakeholders remain wary. The Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, has pledged that the Federal Government will work to prevent a strike and has appealed to ASUU to be patient with ongoing processes.
The alumni body emphasized the broader risks of closure of higher institutions—highlighting that prolonged shutdowns could widen educational inequality, weaken national capacity in key sectors, and leave thousands of students idle, vulnerable to social vices and mental distress.
In closing, the alumni group called on the Presidency to personally intervene, urging a swift, durable resolution to the long-standing impasse. They appealed to the leadership of ASUU to reconsider any decision to resort to strike, citing the devastating impact such action would have on the academic system and the future of the country.
