The Federal Government has disclosed that Nigeria lost an estimated five academic years to repeated industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities in the decade preceding 2023.
According to the government, the frequent strikes significantly disrupted academic calendars in public universities, leading to prolonged study durations, delayed graduations, and a decline in the global competitiveness of Nigerian graduates.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made this known during the launch of the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) programme in Abuja. He stated that universities experienced about 52 strikes within 10 years, resulting in nearly 1,700 lost academic days.
He noted that the situation has improved under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that since May 2023, industrial actions have not significantly disrupted the academic calendar.
According to him, the government’s proactive engagement with ASUU, improved dialogue, and timely interventions have helped stabilise the system. He emphasised that university programmes now run their full duration, stating that a four-year course can now be completed within four years, a consistency not achieved in decades.
However, despite the relative stability, there are concerns that tensions may resurface. The union has threatened fresh industrial action over delays in implementing a renegotiated agreement with the Federal Government.
The agreement, expected to take effect from January 2026, includes a proposed 40 per cent salary increase for lecturers, improved pension benefits, and enhanced academic allowances. Reports indicate that full implementation has yet to commence across several federal universities.
ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, has warned that the union may take further action if there is no progress, citing delays in budget approvals as a major obstacle.
Meanwhile, critics have challenged the government’s claims. The Education Rights Campaign described the assertion that five years were lost to strikes as misleading, arguing that it oversimplifies deeper structural issues in the education sector.
The group maintained that inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and unresolved labour disputes remain the root causes of recurring strikes, warning that without addressing these challenges, stability in the university system may be short-lived.
Education stakeholders continue to stress that lasting reform will require sustained investment, transparency, and genuine commitment to resolving long-standing disputes within Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
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