By Isaac Joseph Inyang
In a renewed move to stabilize Nigeria’s higher education sector, the Federal Government (FG) has declared that academic unions will no longer be allowed to shut down the system through indefinite strikes. This was made known by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a live interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today held on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, where he revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given clear directives to prevent any further breakdown in academic activities across federal institutions.
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Dr. Alausa said the government is not only committed to preventing future strikes but also focused on addressing the root causes that have historically triggered industrial actions by unions such as ASUU, NASU, SSANU, and COEASU. He disclosed that regular engagement with these unions is ongoing and that the government has begun fulfilling financial obligations that were previously ignored. These include earned academic allowances, revitalization funds, promotion arrears, and other entitlements that formed the basis of past union grievances.
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The Minister added that the current administration is adopting a proactive approach, choosing to build trust through continuous dialogue rather than reacting to threats. He noted that strikes in the education sector have often been avoidable, caused mainly by delayed responses, broken promises, and poor communication between the government and academic unions.
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Dr. Alausa also highlighted that part of the reform effort includes the digitization of administrative processes in tertiary institutions. According to him, this would streamline the disbursement of salaries, allowances, and research grants, while improving transparency in internal operations. The aim, he said, is to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensure that academic staff receive what they are owed without unnecessary delays.
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He assured Nigerians that improving the welfare of academic staff is now a top priority. The government, he said, is working toward creating an environment where lecturers can focus on teaching, research, and innovation without the fear of financial uncertainty or neglect. He stressed that the government recognizes the role of university lecturers in national development and is determined to reposition the education sector to reflect that value.
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With these commitments, the Ministry of Education is hoping to rebuild confidence in the public university system and ensure that academic activities across Nigeria remain uninterrupted. While past administrations have often been accused of making promises without implementation, the Minister said the Tinubu-led government is backing its words with action.
