The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resolve their impasse within seven days, warning that failure to do so will result in mass student demonstrations across the country.
In a statement released Wednesday, NANS President Olushola Oladoja expressed deep concern over ASUU’s two-week warning strike, which began October 13, 2025, and has already disrupted academic activities nationwide. Oladoja emphasized that students should not be made to suffer the consequences of unresolved negotiations between the government and lecturers.
“We have enjoyed two uninterrupted academic years under President Bola Tinubu’s administration,” Oladoja said. “This strike threatens to erase the progress we’ve made. Students relying on education loans cannot afford further delays.”
ASUU declared the strike after accusing the government of neglecting key agreements, including the renegotiation and implementation of the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, release of withheld salaries, and revitalization of public universities. The union also cited victimization of lecturers at several institutions, including Lagos State University and Prince Abubakar Audu University.
The Federal Government, led by Education Minister Tunji Alausa, has claimed that negotiations are in their final phase. Alausa said the government has released N50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances and earmarked N150 billion in the 2025 budget for university revitalization. However, ASUU maintains that these steps fall short of their demands.
NANS criticized both parties for allowing the situation to deteriorate, urging them to prioritize the future of Nigerian students. “We will not accept any further disruption to the school calendar,” Oladoja stated. “If this issue is not resolved within seven days, we will mobilize students nationwide to demand accountability.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed solidarity with ASUU, condemning the government’s threat to enforce a no-work-no-pay policy. NLC President Joe Ajaero described the move as intimidation and warned that it could escalate tensions
Meanwhile, academic activities remain suspended across public universities, with students uncertain about when classes will resume. Some institutions have begun compiling attendance lists, reportedly at the directive of the National Universities Commission, in preparation for possible sanctions against striking lecturers .
ASUU President Prof. Chris Piwuna said the union is open to dialogue but insists that concrete action must precede any suspension of the strike. “We’ve waited long enough. The government must show commitment to resolving these issues,” he said during a press briefing in Abuja
As the deadline approaches, stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector are urging swift intervention to prevent further disruption. The outcome of the next few days could determine whether students return to classrooms or take to the streets.
