Lecturers in Nigeria’s public universities have once again shut down classes, launching a two-week warning strike that has left thousands of students idle and families anxious. The strike, which began on Monday, October 13, 2025, comes as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) responds to the Federal Government’s fresh directive enforcing a “no work, no pay” policy on striking members.
The directive, outlined in a circular signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, instructs vice-chancellors of federal universities to withhold salaries from ASUU members who participate in the industrial action. ASUU, which boasts approximately 50,000 members across 89 branches, has dismissed the move as a mere threat, insisting that they remain open to dialogue, but only on their own terms.
The roots of this conflict trace back to 2009 when the Federal Government of Nigeria and ASUU reached a significant agreement aimed at addressing long-standing concerns in Nigeria’s higher education sector. The agreement included promises to increase funding for universities, improve the welfare of lecturers, and revitalize public higher education across the country. These provisions were seen as crucial to counteracting the decline in the quality of education and the deteriorating working conditions for university lecturers.
However, despite the ambitious goals of the 2009 agreement, many of its key provisions remain unimplemented to this day. Sixteen years later, unresolved issues continue to fuel tensions between ASUU and the Federal Government, leading to recurring strikes and protests.
Renegotiations of the 2009 agreement, which were initially set to commence in 2017, have been repeatedly delayed. These talks were supposed to address emerging issues and implement outstanding provisions, but they have yet to yield any significant results. Among the most important unresolved issues are:
- Payment of Earned Academic Allowances: ASUU has repeatedly raised concerns about the delay in the payment of earned academic allowances promised to lecturers as part of the 2009 agreement.
- Withheld Salaries from the 2022 Strike: The non-payment of salaries during the 2022 ASUU strike remains a contentious issue. ASUU has criticized the government’s stance on withholding salaries during strikes, which impacts lecturers’ livelihoods and exacerbates tensions.
- The University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS): ASUU has rejected the government’s proposed Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) for salary payments. Instead, ASUU advocates for the adoption of UTAS, a platform developed by the union, designed to offer a more transparent and university-tailored method of salary payment. However, the government has yet to fully implement this system.
Despite these challenges, renegotiations have stalled, leaving many promises unfulfilled and further straining the relationship between ASUU and the government. This prolonged deadlock has undermined efforts to bring about much-needed reforms in Nigeria’s higher education system.
In August 2025, ASUU presented a set of demands to the Nigerian government, highlighting persistent issues in the country’s education system. One of the union’s major demands was the implementation of a sustainable funding model that would meet the 26% allocation of the national budget to education, a target that has remained unmet for years. In the 2025 budget, education was allocated only 7.9% of the national budget—far below the expected figure.
This shortfall in funding has contributed to recurrent strikes, which disrupt academic calendars and deepen the crisis in Nigeria’s higher education sector. Since 2009, ASUU has gone on strike at least six times, leading to public universities being closed for over 1,500 cumulative days, as recorded by academic unions. These strikes are often in response to the government’s failure to meet agreements, the lack of adequate funding for the sector, and the non-payment of arrears and allowances.
ASUU’s call for the full implementation of the 2009 agreement includes provisions for better funding for public universities, the revitalization of facilities, and the payment of arrears to lecturers. Despite repeated assurances from the government, the failure to meet these demands has left both students and lecturers frustrated, further exacerbating Nigeria’s educational challenges.
The ongoing strikes have had severe consequences for Nigerian students, especially those in federal universities. Over two million students are affected, and surveys show that more than 64% of undergraduates have faced disruptions due to strikes. These interruptions have lengthened academic timelines, with degree programs often extending from the standard four years to five or six, causing considerable academic and emotional strain.
One of the most significant consequences of these strikes is the decline in student motivation. The lost time and mounting frustration have taken a toll, as students grapple with uncertainty about their academic futures. For medical students, the stakes are even higher. A study conducted across several tertiary institutions found that frequent strikes were linked to a 54% reduction in long-term knowledge retention. This is particularly concerning in fields like medicine, where continuous learning is critical.
Moreover, prolonged strikes have led to a 25% increase in drug abuse among students. Many turn to substances as a way to cope with the stress and frustration caused by academic delays. Dropout rates have also risen, as many students struggle to afford the extended living expenses caused by delayed graduations. The economic cost of these disruptions is staggering: in 2022 alone, the last major ASUU strike added an average of one year to degree programs, contributing an estimated ₦1.2 trillion in lost productivity to Nigeria’s economy.
On the streets of Abuja, ordinary Nigerians voiced their frustrations with Fairview Africa reporters. Many see the conflict as a cycle that stalls the nation’s progress, with students bearing the brunt while both sides remain entrenched. Chkwu Earnest, a university student, expressed the disappointment many feel: “I am not really happy with what is really going on with the strike. The course I am to do for four years is now going to be six years. I believe the people that will really help us are the government. If the government can take steps with the lecturers, there will be no need for such a strike.”
Recent data underscores growing concerns among Nigerian students about their future job prospects. A significant number of students are increasingly anxious about finding employment after graduation, with many feeling that employers favor graduates from private institutions or those who have studied abroad. This trend is causing heightened urgency among students, who are seeking alternative educational experiences that they believe will offer better career outcomes.
In response to the ongoing ASUU strike, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s “no work, no pay” policy. NLC President Joe Ajaero described the policy as “illogical, unjust, and insensitive,” emphasizing that it is unreasonable to expect productivity from workers who have not been paid their entitlements. He pointed out that many agreements between the government and unions have remained unfulfilled since 2009, leading to repeated strikes and industrial actions across various sectors.
The NLC’s position aligns with its broader advocacy for equitable access to quality education. Ajaero highlighted the disparity between the educational experiences of the elite—who often attend private institutions or study abroad—and those of the working class and the poor, who are left in a public education system that is systematically weakened. He warned that this educational divide limits social mobility and perpetuates inequality.
Regarding the emigration of Nigerian lecturers, recent reports indicate a significant outflow of academic staff. The World Migration Report 2024 notes that the number of Nigerians migrating for various reasons, including education and employment, has been increasing.
Ademola, a computer engineer who navigated his own university years through similar disruptions, pulled no punches on the recurring pattern: “Honestly speaking, I don’t like hearing the word ASUU strike. This is not the first time. It’s not moving Nigeria forward; rather it’s moving the country backwards. How will a student with four years end up spending six years? It’s not good.”
Ademola advocated for dialogue over deadlock, placing the onus on ASUU to act first. “I believe in diplomacy. I expect ASUU to make the first move to meet government. To me, the idea of no work, no pay by the government is a very good one and no apology for that.” He pointed to what he sees as inconsistencies in the union’s approach: “ASUU believes that even if they strike for one year, they will still end up and get their salaries. Most of these lecturers, they are the ones still lecturing in private universities. Some have schools, so they use this strike period to engage in their personal business, believing that at the end of the day they will still get back their salaries, which is wrong.”
Recent data also highlights the growing concerns among Nigerian students about their future job prospects. According to a 2024 study by the World Education Services, more than half of Nigerian students opt to study abroad in search of better post-graduation employment opportunities, with 80% citing career advancement as their main motivation. This trend is fueled by the increasing difficulty of finding stable jobs within Nigeria, where nearly 39% of university graduates were unemployed as of 2020.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned the government’s “No Work, No Pay” policy, which it describes as “unjust, insensitive, and illogical.” According to NLC President Joe Ajaero, the government’s failure to fulfill agreements with academic staff unions has resulted in prolonged industrial actions. In response, education sector unions are planning a major meeting on October 20 to discuss a coordinated response to the ongoing crisis.
The NLC also raised concerns about the significant brain drain occurring within the education sector, with over 5,000 lecturers emigrating between 2022 and 2024 due to unresolved labor issues and poor working conditions. The NLC warns that the continuation of this policy could worsen Nigeria’s human capital development, further accelerating the migration of skilled professionals.
Ademola urged a practical path forward: “I totally support the idea of no work, no pay. If ASUU really have the students of Nigeria at heart, they should please dialogue with the government. They can still be holding lectures in class while dialoguing with the government. I don’t believe in strike; they should give the government time.”
The situation remains at a crossroads, with both sides digging in. Whether ASUU’s warning escalates to an indefinite strike, as in 2022 when universities were closed for eight months, depends on who blinks first. For now, voices like Earnest’s and Ademola’s remind us that the real deadline is the one facing tomorrow’s graduates.
