Lecturers at public universities in Nigeria have initiated a two-week strike to protest against low salaries and insufficient funding, occurring just weeks after the academic year commenced.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) described the strike as “inevitable,” attributing the blame to the government for not honoring previous agreements regarding salaries, working conditions, and university governance.
The government has called on lecturers to cease the strike and participate in discussions, cautioning that under the “No Work, No Pay” policy, those on strike may not receive their salaries. Officials claim that a comprehensive proposal addressing critical issues has been presented, but they are still waiting for ASUU’s official reply.
ASUU has a longstanding history of conflicts with Nigerian administrations, with unresolved agreements dating back to 1992. The previous significant strike in 2022 lasted eight months, causing educational disruptions for millions of students.
Experts indicate that the current strikes underscore more profound issues within Nigeria’s university system, such as persistent underfunding, political meddling, and a breakdown of trust between unions and the government.
