By James Isaac, Abuja
The Senate has begun moves to end the two-week warning strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), as it seek a diplomatic resolution to avert further disruption of the nation’s academic calendar.
At a meeting held on Friday, October 17, 2025, the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, chaired by Senator Muntari Dandutse, engaged the ASUU leadership in Abuja to find common ground between the Federal Government and the university union.
Speaking at the meeting, Dandutse said the Senate’s intervention was not to adjudicate but to mediate, stressed the need to prevent students from remaining at home indefinitely.
“Our goal is to ensure that the right environment is created for meaningful negotiation. We appeal to ASUU to suspend the strike in the interest of our children and the nation’s education system,” he said.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, in his remarks, faulted the government for failing to implement the recommendations of the Yayale Ahmed Committee set up by the current administration.
He listed the union’s key demands to include sustainable funding of universities, improved conditions of service, revitalization of the university system, and protection of academic freedom and autonomy.
Piwuna lamented that despite the National Assembly’s approval of ₦150 billion for university funding, the Federal Ministry had withheld the funds, opting instead to release them in three tranches of ₦50 billion, to be shared with colleges of education leaving universities without adequate access.
He also decried the poor remuneration of Nigerian lecturers, noting that while their counterparts in South Africa earn up to ₦6 million monthly, Nigerian academics take home about ₦500,000. He added that although a 25% salary increase was approved, three and a half months of arrears remain unpaid.
Piwuna further criticized the alleged move by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to take over land belonging to the University of Abuja.
While commending the government’s stance against the proliferation of universities, the ASUU president expressed the union’s willingness to shift ground if there is “a reasonable increase in the government’s offer.”
In its resolution, the Senate expressed displeasure over the Federal Government’s failure to implement previous agreements reached with ASUU. The committee also resolved to interface with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC), to expedite action on the contentious issues.
The lawmakers further agreed to meet with the FCT Minister to address the dispute over the University of Abuja’s land.
