The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given a firm directive to prevent further strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
Speaking during an interview [/b]on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Alausa emphasized that the President’s administration is committed to maintaining stability in higher institutions.
He stated that President Tinubu has charged his cabinet with ensuring that industrial actions by academic unions become a thing of the past.
“The President has directed that not again in this country will ASUU or tertiary institution trade unions go on strike,” Alausa said.
The minister explained that the current administration is focused on fostering regular dialogue and trust between the government and academic unions, setting it apart from previous governments.
“It is not just about making promises. There has to be a strong foundation of relationship building. Beyond that, the government is fulfilling its obligations to the unions,” he added.
Alausa also dismissed rumors suggesting a potential strike in the education sector, assuring that the government is actively engaging with all relevant bodies, including ASUU, NASU, COEASU, and SSANU.
His remarks come in the wake of the ASUU branch at Yobe State University calling off its strike, which began on July 11, 2025.
The branch chairman, Ahmed Karage, confirmed the suspension, noting that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the Yobe State Government to resolve outstanding issues.
“Following the MoU, the national president of ASUU has given approval to suspend the strike action,” Karage announced, urging all members to return to work immediately.
Dr. Alausa further highlighted that reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration are already yielding results, with several public universities now gaining global recognition in international rankings.