FG must honour ASUU agreements — Educationist

Educationist Dr. Joseph Otuagoma has called on the Federal Government to honour its agreements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to prevent the recurring cycle of strikes in public universities.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Otuagoma described the frequent industrial actions as a major setback for Nigeria’s higher education system, warning that they have far-reaching consequences on students and the nation’s development.

“In Nigeria, if a university doesn’t go on strike for a year, people are surprised,” he said. “A four-year course can easily stretch to six or seven. These strikes don’t just delay education — they affect students’ mental health and career plans. It’s a national tragedy.”

Otuagoma urged the government to stop making empty promises and instead fulfil existing agreements with the lecturers’ union.

“Each time ASUU threatens to strike, new promises are made that are never kept. That cycle must end,” he stressed.

His comments follow the suspension of ASUU’s two-week warning strike, which began on October 13 and was called off after the government and the National Assembly pledged renewed commitment to the union’s demands.

The lecturers have given the government a one-month window to meet key conditions — including a review of the 2009 ASUU–FG agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned allowances, and release of the university revitalisation fund.

Otuagoma also urged increased investment in education infrastructure, including modern laboratories, libraries, and digital learning tools.

“There are students studying computer science who have never touched a computer. How can that produce quality graduates?” he asked.

He further criticised underfunding in public schools while acknowledging private institutions for filling the gaps.

“Private schools have come to stay. Even those who dislike them can’t change that fact because government funding for education is simply inadequate,” he said.

The educationist stressed that Nigeria must treat education as a national emergency, adding:

“No country can rise above the quality of its education system. If we continue to neglect it, we’ll keep producing half-baked graduates. But if we invest in teachers, infrastructure, and innovation, the results will speak for themselves.”