The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a stern seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), demanding an immediate resolution to their ongoing dispute to avert another crippling strike.
In a statement signed by NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, on Wednesday, the student body expressed deep concern over the rising tension between the government and university lecturers, warning that any disruption to the academic calendar would be “unacceptable” to Nigerian students.
“It is, therefore, in this spirit that NANS appeals to both ASUU and the Federal Government’s negotiation team to find a workable and lasting solution within the next seven (7) days,” Oladoja said. “Nigerian students, many of whom are now studying through educational loans, cannot afford to have their academic calendar disrupted or their duration on campus extended again.”
Oladoja acknowledged the progress made under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Administration, noting that the education sector had enjoyed two uninterrupted academic years — a feat not recorded since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. However, he warned that the current threat of industrial action by ASUU was putting that progress at risk.
He praised the administration’s reforms, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the removal of tertiary staff unions from the IPPIS platform, the reversal of the 40% IGR remittance policy, and special TETFund interventions. Yet, he lamented that poor communication and delays in implementing agreements with ASUU had created avoidable tension.
“It is regrettable that despite the huge progress recorded, this strike, a result of miscommunication and poor crisis management with timely implementation of the resolutions earlier reached with ASUU, is thereby creating avoidable tension that now threatens the peace and progress of the education sector,” he added.
According to NANS’ findings, a recent meeting convened by the Federal Government to address ASUU’s grievances was boycotted by the union due to procedural disagreements. Oladoja said both parties have since expressed readiness to return to the table once the meeting is properly reconvened.
“NANS, therefore, calls on the government to immediately reconvene the meeting to close this communication gap,” he urged.
He also called on President Tinubu to personally intervene in the matter, warning that failure to act swiftly could erode the goodwill and stability achieved in the education sector.
“We strongly emphasise the need for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to personally intervene at this crucial time to prevent the gains achieved in the education sector under his Renewed Hope Administration from being eroded by another strike action,” Oladoja said.
“If this impasse is not resolved and the strike persists beyond seven days, it risks undermining the progress and goodwill recorded under this administration. Now is the time for dialogue, understanding, and decisive action the future of millions of Nigerian students depends on it.”
ASUU had on Monday commenced a warning strike following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government. The union is demanding the implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, payment of withheld salaries, revitalisation of public universities, and sustainable funding for tertiary education.
Other grievances include unpaid salary arrears, promotion backlogs, and the release of withheld cooperative deductions. The 2009 agreement, renegotiated multiple times, remains unimplemented despite the submission of the most recent report by the Yayale Ahmed-led committee in December 2024.
In response, Education Minister Tunji Alausa reportedly directed university vice-chancellors to enforce the government’s “No Work, No Pay” policy a move that has sparked fresh outrage among academic staff.
The strike has already disrupted examinations in several universities, leaving students and parents anxious about the future of the academic calendar.
