The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to immediately resume negotiations to end the ongoing two-week warning strike declared by the union.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Oluwaseun Whinghan, member representing Badagry Federal Constituency of Lagos State, during plenary on Tuesday.
ASUU commenced the warning strike on Monday, citing the Federal Government’s failure to address long-standing demands, including the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, revitalisation of universities, payment of earned academic allowances, review of salary structures, and respect for university autonomy.
Prior to the strike, Minister of Education Yusuf Sununu had assured that discussions with the union were nearing conclusion under the Bola Tinubu administration.
Moving the motion, Whinghan expressed concern that the renewed strike could lead to another prolonged shutdown of academic activities, disrupting the academic calendar and causing hardship to students, parents, and lecturers.
He noted that repeated industrial actions in the tertiary education sector have weakened Nigeria’s human-capital development, innovation capacity, and global competitiveness, stressing that education remains a constitutional driver of national progress under Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The Nigerian university system is vital to the nation’s development and productivity,” Whinghan said. “Both the Federal Government and university unions have a shared responsibility to preserve its stability and quality.”
He warned that recurring strikes have triggered student dropouts, increased brain drain, and eroded public trust in Nigeria’s higher education system.
Following deliberations, the House urged both the Federal Government and ASUU to return to the dialogue table in a spirit of mutual respect and transparency. It also mandated its Committees on University Education and Labour, Employment and Productivity to intervene immediately and facilitate a lasting resolution.
Additionally, the House resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee, chaired by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, to mediate in the crisis and ensure that academic activities resume without further delay.
Lawmakers also called for the creation of a permanent joint consultative platform between the Federal Government and recognised university unions to enable continuous engagement and prevent future industrial disputes.
The Committee on Legislative Compliance was directed to monitor the mediation process and report progress to the House within one week.
