The unfulfilled 2009 ASUU-FG agreement continues to fuel strikes, leaving Nigeria’s universities trapped in a cycle of unrest.
The unresolved 2009 agreement between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government remains a major trigger of recurring strikes in Nigeria’s higher education system. The pact, signed 16 years ago, was designed to address critical issues, including revitalisation of public universities, staff welfare, and sustainable funding for research and infrastructure. However, years after repeated negotiations and assurances from successive administrations, many of the provisions remain unimplemented.
ASUU has consistently maintained that government’s failure to honour the deal undermines the quality of education and frustrates academic staff. “What we are fighting for is the survival of Nigeria’s universities,” union leaders have repeatedly stressed during negotiations.
The prolonged stalemate has left students as the biggest casualties, with frequent disruptions in academic calendars. Analysts warn that without genuine political will to resolve the matter, Nigeria’s university system risks further decline, perpetuating the cycle of strikes that has defined relations between ASUU and government.