Tension is once again rising between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), as long-standing disagreements resurface over the state of tertiary education in the country.
For many Nigerians, the recurring conflict is a familiar story. It usually begins with unmet promises, escalates into union ultimatums, and then leads to the closure of campuses when lecturers down tools.
This time, signs of another strike are evident, and both lecturers and students wait anxiously for what may come next.
At the centre of the dispute is the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU–FGN agreement.
The union insists that the pact, which covers funding, staff welfare, and revitalisation of universities, remains unimplemented despite several attempts at review.
Federal negotiators, on the other hand, argue that the economic realities of the country make immediate fulfilment of the agreement difficult.
The Former ASUU president, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, recently reiterated the union’s position, saying: “Our demands are not new. Government has signed agreements with us since 2009, and we are only asking that those commitments be respected.”
The 2009 deal itself came after decades of strained relations. Earlier agreements in 1981 and 1992 had introduced mechanisms such as the Education Tax Fund, later renamed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
While TETFund has left a visible mark on campuses across the country through projects and research grants, ASUU maintains that the core issues of salaries, working conditions, and institutional autonomy remain unresolved.
Experts say the history of ASUU’s struggles reflects a deeper problem in Nigeria’s governance of education.
The country currently has over 330 universities — 72 federal, 108 state, and 159 private — but public universities continue to suffer from overcrowding, inadequate funding, and outdated infrastructure.
Former ASUU president and ex-INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, once remarked: “Inadequate funding limits resources and impacts quality of education delivery. Training qualified manpower and addressing teacher shortages require consistent investment.”
Yet, Nigeria spends less than 10 per cent of its national budget on education. By comparison, countries such as South Africa and Ghana allocate higher proportions.
Analysts argue that this funding gap explains why many Nigerian students travel abroad in search of better learning environments.
Beyond funding, ASUU has raised concerns over university autonomy. The union accuses government of interfering in the appointment of vice-chancellors and other key officials, as well as in the day-to-day running of institutions.
For example, recent controversies at the University of Abuja and the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education highlighted allegations of political interference in academic affairs.
Cases of victimisation of lecturers have also surfaced. The union cites incidents at Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University in Kogi, and the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), where some staff allegedly faced sanctions linked to union activities.
On the government’s side, officials maintain that efforts are being made to address the concerns.
The minister of education, Prof Tahir Mamman, stated earlier this year: “We recognise the contributions of our lecturers and the importance of our universities.
Dialogue is ongoing, and we are confident that solutions will be reached without further disruption to the academic calendar.”
However, such assurances have often failed to stop strikes in the past.
Data from the National Universities Commission shows that between 1999 and 2022, ASUU embarked on at least 16 strike actions, disrupting academic programmes for a cumulative period of over four years.
Each episode has left students stranded, delayed graduations, and increased costs for families.
Parents and students are among the hardest hit. “Each time ASUU goes on strike, our lives are placed on hold,” said Mariam Adebayo, a final-year student of the University of Ilorin. “We just want stability so we can graduate and plan our future.”
Education stakeholders fear that another prolonged closure could further weaken confidence in public universities and push more young Nigerians towards expensive private schools or foreign institutions.
This, they argue, risks deepening inequality, as only families with financial means can afford such alternatives.
For now, the clock ticks as both sides prepare for another round of negotiations. Whether compromise will be reached or another strike will paralyse the system remains uncertain.
What is clear is that the dispute has become a recurring cycle with high costs for the nation’s human capital development.
Until government and ASUU find common ground, the question lingers: who carries the can in this unending dispute — the lecturers fighting for better conditions, the authorities balancing limited resources, or the students caught in the middle?