The Federal Government has declared the era of strikes in Nigerian tertiary institutions permanently over, assuring parents, students, and the general public that universities and polytechnics will remain open for all academic sessions.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance while speaking during the presentation of awards to winners of the Student Venture Capital Grant initiative at the United Nations Development Programme Innovation Hub, Ikoyi, Lagos.
He said the government had resolved longstanding disputes with the Academic Staff Union of Universities under the FG/ASUU 2025 agreement and was close to finalising an agreement with the Non-Academic Staff Union.
On January 14, 2026, the Federal Government and ASUU signed an agreement that includes a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff, improved pensions, and a commitment to better university funding.
Alausa described recent reports that the ASUU President, Prof Chris Piwuna, gave a four-day ultimatum to the FG as “fake news,” adding that he confirmed with the ASUU president that he was “quoted out of context.”
He added, “We’ve solved this in totality. So when you get news about looming strikes, treat it as fake. Let me use this medium to assure our parents. Our words are our bond. Your students will remain in school. Strikes have been cured in eternity.
“Our tertiary institutions will continue to remain open for all academic sessions. Please don’t worry about strikes. We’ve also resolved issues with the non-academic staff union, and that agreement will be signed in the coming weeks.”
