FG Says It Has Met All ASUU Demands, Urges Lecturers to End Strike

The Federal Government on Monday insisted that it has met all the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and therefore sees no justification for the ongoing strike. Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, emphasizing that the government has fulfilled every request presented by the union.

“We have addressed every single request by ASUU; there is no need for this strike. We are pleading with them to return to the classrooms because we must keep our children in school,” Alausa said.

He dismissed claims that the government had been slow or unwilling to meet FG Says It Has Met All ASUU Demands, Urges Lecturers to End Strike

The Federal Government on Monday insisted that it has met all the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and therefore sees no justification for the ongoing strike.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, emphasizing that the government has fulfilled every request presented by the union.

“We have addressed every single request by ASUU; there is no need for this strike. We are pleading with them to return to the classrooms because we must keep our children in school,” Alausa said.He dismissed claims that the government had been slow or unwilling to meet the union’s demands, highlighting several financial interventions and policy changes made under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

According to the minister, ₦50 billion has already been paid for earned academic allowances, which have now been integrated into lecturers’ salaries to prevent future arrears. He added that postgraduate supervision allowances are now being handled by universities, while ₦150 billion has been budgeted for needs assessment projects, with ₦50 billion already released.

Alausa further explained that outstanding promotion arrears will be settled in the 2026 budget, noting that the government remains committed to fair engagement with labour unions. ASUU, however, announced a total and comprehensive two-week warning strike beginning Monday, October 13, 2025, citing the government’s alleged failure to make meaningful progress on its promises.

The union’s president, Professor Chris Piwuna, said during a press conference at the University of Abuja that the decision followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued on September 28, 2025. Despite government appeals for restraint, all ASUU branches nationwide have been directed to withdraw their services for the duration of the warning strike. The union’s demands, highlighting several financial interventions and policy changes made under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

According to the minister, ₦50 billion has already been paid for earned academic allowances, which have now been integrated into lecturers’ salaries to prevent future arrears. He added that postgraduate supervision allowances are now being handled by universities, while ₦150 billion has been budgeted for needs assessment projects, with ₦50 billion already released.

Alausa further explained that outstanding promotion arrears will be settled in the 2026 budget, noting that the government remains committed to fair engagement with labour unions. ASUU, however, announced a total and comprehensive two-week warning strike beginning Monday, October 13, 2025, citing the government’s alleged failure to make meaningful progress on its promises. The union’s president, Professor Chris Piwuna, said during a press conference at the University of Abuja that the decision followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued on September 28, 2025.

Despite government appeals for restraint, all ASUU branches nationwide have been directed to withdraw their services for the duration of the warning strike.