Opinion
Why ASUU Strike Persists
Picking my pen to write this article, a question flashed in my head, “but how many times will you write about ASUU strike?” Indeed, there is hardly any year in recent times that I have not poured out my heart on the persistent industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). And I wish I could help not commenting on that; but as long as the strike action continues to take a toll on Nigerian students and their parents, we will continue to write, hoping that the authority and the university lecturers would listen, reason and resolve their issues once and for all in the interest of the students, their parents and the nation.
The other day, a friend came to me fuming after she was told that the school fees for medical students in a private university where she was seeking admission for her son was N7 million per semester. To her, it was incomprehensible and she queried, “What is the big deal about the private university? How can they charge N7 million for a semester while in federal universities you may not even pay up to N200,000.00 for the same course in a semester? Is it that when these children graduate as medical doctors a special preference will be given to those that attended private schools in terms of employment, salary and other welfare packages or what?”
It is hard to see anybody that schooled in the country in the past four decades or even more that did not witness one ASUU strike or another. Between 1999 and now, not less than 15 strikes have been initiated and each time the reasons are the same: poor funding of Nigerian universities, government reneging on its previous promises to the body and many more.
Not surprisingly, the ongoing one-month warning strike by the varsity lecturers is toeing the same line. The union is protesting the government’s failure to fulfil some of the agreements it reached with it to suspend its last strike in 2020. Some of their demands are funding for revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS); promotion arrears, renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, and the inconsistencies in Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) payment format.
ASUU strikes and agreements with the government have come a long way. The agreements, according to the union, started from 1981, 1982, 1999 to 2001, till date. In all these years, agreements that addressed salient areas concerning the welfare of lecturers and the education sector were signed. But painfully, one of the parties, the Federal Government, would always fail to implement these agreements which has been largely blamed for the instability in the tertiary education sector in the country.
Why the government would enter into an agreement with a group and fail to fulfil same is what many do not understand. Again, why should the government wait for labour unions to down tools before giving listening ears to their demands? What about nipping the situation in the bud? Is the ability of a government to honour its words not what makes such a government responsible? When will the federal government learn to fulfil whatever agreement it entered into with labour unions so as to save the country from sufferings and hardships occasioned by incessant strikes?
Coming from a university town, I know exactly how the strikes impact negatively on the economic life of not only the university community but the entire university town. Many of these people can barely eat or take care of their other needs at strike periods like this.
What about the students, the main victims of ASUU versus federal government showdowns? Reports say, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to embark on mass protests across the country, particularly in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, to demand an end to the incessant industrial action by ASUU. The leadership of the union said they do not care whose shoulders the blame lies; all they want is that the impasse be resolved so that they can go back to school.
Do we really blame the students? Their colleagues in private and some state-owned universities are in schools learning and they are forced to stay at home for one month or beyond if care is not taken. Each time we complain over the poor quality of graduates produced from Nigerian universities without reasoning that these graduates were not properly groomed. Many of them spent half of their school years at home due to one ASUU strike or the other.
Today, many lament over the high number of Nigerian students in foreign universities. But I wonder which parents who can afford to send their children to schools abroad for quality education will fail to do so going by the back and forth nature of Nigeria’s education system? No parent is happy when a child is forced to spend six years over a four-year course because the school system is constantly disrupted by strike actions.
The other day, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, while addressing some stakeholders declared the ongoing strike by ASUU as illegal, describing it as a clear breach of the law and that ASUU did not go through the normal process before embarking on the current industrial action. This is not so relevant at this time. Had the government done what was expected of them, would the lecturers have downed tool?
Of course, we are aware that the government has a lot on their table right now. A lot of things are competing for the available resources, but education should be among the top priorities. When you compare the amount budgeted for education, health and other key sectors of the economy to the amount voted for elections and politics you will just know clearly where the interest of our leaders lie and it is so unfortunate. “An investment in education always pays the highest returns”, says Benjamin Franklin.
We cannot expect things to be better except government, at all levels, begin to take the right steps at the right time. Federal government and lecturers, who are primary enforcers in the tertiary education system, should put an end to the age-long bickering, realising that their actions or inactions leave a negative imprint on their direct subject, the students. As the saying goes, when two elephants are fighting, the grass suffers. Governments at all levels should be more sensitive to the plight of workers. The welfare of workers should be the top priority of any responsible government.
By: Calista Ezeaku
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
