The Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged to ensure that Nigeria never again experiences industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) or any other trade union in the education sector.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, gave this assurance at the Scientific Conference and Induction Ceremony of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria (AMSN), held over the weekend in Lagos.
Alausa, who was among the 15 new Fellows inducted into the Academy, said the Tinubu administration is determined to sustain a stable academic calendar at all levels of education.
> “In the history of ASUU, the union has been on strike for about 54 months. That’s not an enviable record,” he stated. “This government is determined to eliminate strikes completely from our university system. President Bola Tinubu, under his Renewed Hope Agenda, does not want to see students sitting at home when they should be in school.”
The minister explained that President Tinubu had prioritized higher education reform, backing it with several initiatives including the students’ loan scheme, repositioning of TETFund, and the proposed Education Research Fund. These, he said, are aimed at promoting uninterrupted learning and enhancing the global competitiveness of Nigerian graduates.
He added that the President considers human capital development a key driver of national growth and economic transformation, assuring that the Federal Government would continue to engage meaningfully with ASUU and other unions to maintain industrial harmony.
> “The President gives me every opportunity to discuss university issues with him. His goal is to ensure that our tertiary institutions are solution-driven and that our graduates can compete anywhere in the world,” Alausa noted.
Alausa also expressed gratitude to the Academy of Medical Sciences for his honorary fellowship, describing it as a rare honour earned after nearly a year of rigorous assessment. He pledged to deepen collaboration between the Ministry of Education and professional bodies to advance medical research and innovation.
In his remarks, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi, commended the Academy for promoting excellence and mentorship in medical science. He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure, expanding access, and strengthening its cancer screening and treatment programs.
Earlier, AMSN President Emeritus Prof. Osato Giwa-Osagie highlighted the Academy’s mission to foster medical research, education, and human health development.
Among the newly inducted Fellows were Prof. Taiwo Lawal (University of Ibadan), Prof. Clement Azodo (University of Benin), Prof. Titilope Adeyemo (University of Lagos), Prof. Kikelomo Kolawole (OAU Ile-Ife), Prof. Emmanuel Otolorin, Prof. Olalekan Ayo-Yusuf, Prof. Chinedum Babalola, and Prof. Ganiyu Arinola, among others.
With the latest induction, the Academy—founded six years ago—now boasts over 100 Fellows who are leading contributors to medical science, education, and public health in Nigeria.
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