FG Declares End to ASUU Strikes, NASU Agreement Near

The Federal Government has declared that strikes in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions are a thing of the past, assuring students and parents of uninterrupted academic activities across universities and polytechnics.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made the declaration during the presentation of awards to beneficiaries of the Student Venture Capital Grant initiative at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Innovation Hub in Ikoyi, Lagos.

He stated that the government had resolved longstanding disputes with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) under the 2025 agreement, while discussions with the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) were nearing completion.

According to Alausa, the agreement reached with ASUU on January 14, 2026, provides for a 40 percent salary increase for academic staff, improved pension packages, and enhanced funding for tertiary institutions.

The minister dismissed reports of a possible strike ultimatum by ASUU as false, noting that the union’s president, Chris Piwuna, had been misrepresented.

“We have resolved the issues in totality. Any report about a looming strike should be treated as fake. Our students will remain in school, and strikes have been permanently addressed,” he said.

Alausa further disclosed that the salary increment had already begun reflecting in payments, with about 90 to 95 percent of institutions implementing the increase through adjustments made from the 2025 budget.

Addressing concerns over reported unrest in some institutions, including the University of Lagos, the minister attributed such developments to local misunderstandings rather than official industrial action.

On NASU, he said negotiations had reached an advanced stage, with a formal agreement expected to be signed in the coming weeks.

The minister also credited Bola Tinubu for his direct involvement in resolving disputes within the education sector, noting that the administration remained committed to improving staff welfare and maintaining stability in tertiary institutions.

The Federal Government reiterated its assurance that Nigerian tertiary institutions will remain open for all academic sessions, marking what it described as a new era of stability in the nation’s education system.