Senate Steps In to Resolve ASUU-FG Dispute, Plans Crucial Meeting with Education Minister
The Senate has stepped in to resolve the ongoing face-off between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), in a bid to end the current two-week warning strike by university lecturers.
To tackle the issue, the Senate Committees on Labour, Tertiary Institutions, and TETFUND will meet with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, next week Tuesday.
The planned meeting will follow a separate session held today (Friday) between the committees and the leadership of ASUU at the National Assembly in Abuja.
Speaking with journalists after the closed-door session, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, Senator Muntari Dandutse (APC, Katsina South), said the lawmakers had carefully listened to ASUU’s complaints and were determined to engage the relevant government officials to find a lasting solution.
“After meeting with the national leadership of ASUU on how to end the ongoing warning strike and prevent a looming indefinite one, we have resolved to convene a crucial meeting with key government agencies, particularly the Minister of Education and the Executive Secretary of NUC, on Tuesday or Wednesday next week,” Dandutse said.
He added that the committee also planned to meet with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the University of Abuja land dispute, urging the minister to stop any action that could affect the institution’s property.
Earlier, during the session, ASUU National President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, reiterated that the only sustainable way to end the recurring strikes was for the government to honour past agreements and increase funding for public universities.
“We have engaged the Federal Government for eight years without tangible results. The Yayale Ahmed Committee report, submitted in December 2024, was ignored until this industrial action began,” Piwuna said.
He explained that the ongoing strike was rooted in unresolved issues dating back to 2011, and expressed frustration that despite National Assembly approval of ₦150 billion for universities, only ₦50 billion has been released so far.
According to him, the remaining funds are allegedly being held at the Ministry of Education, where the minister reportedly plans to distribute them among universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education — even though each category already has its own budget.
Piwuna insisted that the ₦150 billion approved was meant solely for universities, warning that diverting the funds would violate the agreement reached with the union.
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He emphasized that consistent investment in education is the only path to ending industrial disputes and improving Nigeria’s global university rankings.
“If the government is serious about developing this country, then it must prioritise sustainable funding for education,” the ASUU president said.
The Senate’s intervention comes amid growing concerns that the two-week warning strike could escalate into an indefinite industrial action if the issues remain unresolved.
