The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is firmly committed to preventing further industrial actions within the country’s tertiary education sector. Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Alausa emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given clear directives to his team to ensure academic stability across public universities and other higher institutions.

According to the minister, the Tinubu-led administration is working proactively to address long-standing grievances of major academic unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

“The President has directed that not again in this country will ASUU or any tertiary institution trade union go on strike,” Alausa stated during the current affairs program.

Alausa noted that the Federal Government is now engaging these unions consistently, in contrast to previous administrations that often failed to uphold signed agreements. He stressed that regular communication and fulfillment of obligations are central to restoring trust between the government and academic staff.

“It is just not about promises. There has to be meaningful relationship-building,” he explained. “What was lacking in the past was sincerity. Government would sign agreements and later renege on them. That’s why there was so much tension in the system.”

The minister highlighted that current reforms in the education sector are beginning to show measurable progress, including improved global rankings for some public universities, signaling a shift toward better academic outcomes.

ASUU Yobe Branch Ends Strike After MoU

Dr. Alausa’s remarks came shortly after the Yobe State University branch of ASUU announced the suspension of its industrial action, which began on July 11, 2025. The branch said the strike was called off following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Yobe State Government, which addressed several outstanding demands.

In a statement, the branch chairman, Ahmed Karage, confirmed that ASUU’s national leadership had approved the resumption of academic activities after reviewing the terms of the MoU.

“Following the MoU, the President of ASUU has granted approval to call off the strike action,” the statement read. Members were directed to resume work immediately.

The resolution in Yobe is seen as a positive sign that negotiations when treated with sincerity can yield lasting solutions to the recurring issues in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

While the Education Minister remains optimistic, many observers note that resolving long-standing structural and funding challenges in tertiary education will require more than dialogue. The consistency of government actions and follow-through on agreements will be critical to restoring confidence in Nigeria’s public universities and preventing the brain drain of skilled academic staff.

Nonetheless, Alausa reiterated that the Tinubu administration is determined to create an environment where strikes are no longer seen as the only way for unions to get the government’s attention.

“We are committed to breaking the cycle of disruption in our universities. Our institutions must remain open. Students must learn in peace. That is the President’s directive, and we are executing it.”