Abuja—The House of Representatives on Tuesday moved swiftly to intervene in the renewed industrial dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government, urging both parties to urgently return to the negotiating table to resolve the two-week warning strike declared by the union.
The House’s resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Oluwaseun Whinghan (Badagry Federal Constituency, Lagos State) during plenary.
Background to the Strike
ASUU commenced a nationwide two-week warning strike on Monday over the government’s alleged failure to address long-standing issues. These demands include the full implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, revitalisation funding, payment of earned academic allowances, a new salary structure, and issues surrounding university autonomy.
Before the strike, the Minister of Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, had reportedly assured the public that the President Bola Tinubu administration was in the “final stage of talks” with ASUU.
Lawmakers Express Deep Concern
Moving the motion, Hon. Whinghan expressed deep concern that the warning strike could escalate into a prolonged shutdown, which he noted has historically “disrupted academic calendars, derailed research, and deepened the frustration of students, parents, and lecturers alike.”
He stressed that the Nigerian university system is “central to national development, innovation, and human-capital growth,” warning that any disruption weakens the country’s competitiveness and youth productivity.
Whinghan lamented that repeated strikes have led to student dropouts, brain drain, and a loss of public confidence in the university system. He called for a “renewed dialogue anchored on mutual respect, transparency, and good faith, with the legislature serving as a neutral facilitator.”
House Resolutions
Following the unanimous adoption of the motion, the House resolved to:
Mandate Committees: Direct its Committees on University Education and Labour, Employment, and Productivity to immediately intervene between the Federal Government and ASUU to facilitate a mutually acceptable and lasting resolution.
Constitute Ad-hoc Committee: Set up an Ad-hoc Committee, to be chaired by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, to mediate in the crisis and ensure striking lecturers return to the classrooms without further delay.
Call for Restraint: Urge both the Federal Government and ASUU to exercise restraint, embrace dialogue, and prioritise the interests of students and national development.
Establish Permanent Platform: Call on the Federal Government to establish a permanent joint consultative platform with recognised university unions for continuous engagement to prevent future industrial actions.
Monitor Compliance: Direct the Committee on Legislative Compliance to monitor and report the progress of the mediation efforts to the House within one week.
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