By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has said that President Bola Tinubu has issued a firm directive to prevent further industrial actions by unions in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today aired Tuesday on Channels Television, Alausa emphasized that the current administration is determined to put an end to recurring strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other related unions.
“The President has directed that never again in this country should ASUU or any tertiary institution union embark on strike,” Alausa said.
He explained that the Tinubu administration’s strategy is based on proactive engagement, transparency, and consistent fulfillment of obligations an approach he believes sets it apart from past governments.
“It’s not just about making promises. We are actively building trust and relationships with these unions while meeting our commitments,” he said.
Alausa also dismissed speculation about any imminent industrial action in the sector. He reaffirmed the government’s active engagement with various academic and non-academic unions, including COEASU, NASU, and SSANU, to maintain stability across campuses.
His remarks followed the suspension of a strike by the ASUU chapter at Yobe State University, which had begun on July 11, 2025. The branch chairman, Ahmed Karage, announced the suspension after the union signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Yobe State Government to address their grievances.
“Based on the MoU, the ASUU national president has approved the suspension of the strike, and members have been directed to resume duties,” Karage said.
Alausa noted that the federal government’s ongoing reforms in the education sector are already delivering results, including improved global rankings for some Nigerian public universities.
