The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to the dialogue table and resolve their ongoing disagreement, which recently prompted a two-week warning strike across Nigerian universities.
This appeal came after lawmakers unanimously adopted a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Oluwaseun Whinghan, the member representing Badagry Federal Constituency of Lagos State, during Tuesday’s plenary session.
ASUU had, on Monday, declared a two-week warning strike to protest what it described as the government’s failure to honour previous agreements. The union cited long-standing issues, including the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, revitalisation funds for public universities, payment of earned academic allowances, a review of salary structures, and concerns over university autonomy.
Before the industrial action commenced, the Minister of Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, had reassured the public that the Tinubu administration was nearing the conclusion of negotiations aimed at addressing the union’s demands.
However, Whinghan expressed deep worry that the current warning strike could spiral into another prolonged shutdown if not urgently managed. He noted that past experiences have shown that what begins as a short-term protest often extends into months of halted academic activity, crippling research and causing immense hardship for students, parents, and lecturers.
“The House recognises that ASUU may have labelled this a warning strike,” Whinghan said, “but history has shown that such actions frequently snowball into long-term stoppages. Our universities are the backbone of national growth, innovation, and human capital development, and any disruption weakens Nigeria’s global competitiveness and the productivity of its youth.”
He reminded the House that Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) underscores education as a fundamental tool for social and technological advancement, stressing that both the Federal Government and university unions share the responsibility of preserving the continuity and quality of the nation’s higher education system.
Whinghan lamented the recurring disruption of academic calendars due to industrial actions, noting that these have contributed to student dropouts, brain drain among academics, and a steady decline in public confidence in Nigeria’s university system. Such outcomes, he warned, jeopardise the country’s long-term development and stability.
He urged both parties to adopt a spirit of mutual respect and transparency in negotiations, with the National Assembly serving as a neutral facilitator to ensure a lasting resolution in the interest of students and the nation at large.
Following the adoption of his motion, the House mandated its Committees on University Education and Labour, Employment, and Productivity to immediately intervene in the dispute between the Federal Government and ASUU. The goal, lawmakers said, is to broker a sustainable agreement that would prevent further disruptions.
Additionally, the House resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee chaired by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, to mediate directly between both parties and work towards a speedy return of lecturers to the classrooms.
In its resolutions, the House appealed to both ASUU and the Federal Government to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue over confrontation. Lawmakers emphasised that the welfare of students and the broader interest of national development must take precedence over all other considerations.
The House further advised the Federal Government to establish a standing joint consultative platform that would allow for continuous engagement with recognised university unions. According to the lawmakers, such a mechanism would help anticipate and resolve potential grievances before they escalate into full-scale industrial actions.
To ensure accountability, the Committee on Legislative Compliance was directed to monitor the progress of the mediation process and present an update to the House within one week.
The National Assembly’s intervention marks the latest effort to end a long history of disputes between ASUU and successive governments—disputes that have repeatedly paralysed academic activities and shaken the confidence of Nigerians in the stability of their public universities.
