The House of Representatives has pledged to mediate in the ongoing standoff between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), following the union’s decision to embark on a two-week warning strike.
The intervention, led by the lawmaker representing Badagry Federal Constituency, Sesi Whingan, was initiated through a motion adopted during Tuesday’s plenary.
The move aims to broker a lasting peace between the warring parties and restore normalcy to the nation’s universities.
Whingan, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member, emphasised the urgency of government action to prevent another prolonged academic disruption.
“Our universities have suffered enough from recurrent strikes. It’s time for dialogue and decisive solutions that prioritise students and the nation’s future,” he said.
ASUU began its warning strike on Monday after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government.
The union accused the government of failing to honour several long-standing commitments, marking the first nationwide strike since 2022.
At the heart of ASUU’s grievances are the unresolved issues surrounding the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
The union is demanding its full renegotiation, the release of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, sustainable funding for public universities, and the revitalisation of tertiary institutions.
Other demands include payment of outstanding salary arrears ranging between 25 and 35 per cent, settlement of promotion arrears dating back over four years, and the release of withheld cooperative deductions.
Negotiations over the 2009 agreement have dragged on since 2017, with at least six committees inaugurated within that period without a binding outcome.
The most recent was the Yayale Ahmed-led committee, inaugurated in October 2024. According to ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, the committee’s report was submitted in December 2024 but only reached the Minister of Education two months later.
In response to the strike, the Ministry of Education reportedly directed university vice-chancellors to enforce the “No Work, No Pay” policy and compile the list of lecturers who have withdrawn from academic duties.
The industrial action has already disrupted examinations and academic activities in several universities across the country, raising fears of another extended shutdown.
The House leadership, however, assured that it would engage both parties swiftly to avert a full-blown strike.
“Education is the backbone of development,” a senior House member said. “We cannot afford to keep our students idle while negotiations drag endlessly.”
If successful, the House intervention could mark a turning point in one of Nigeria’s most persistent education crises.