It’s the middle of the semester. Classrooms are full, final-year students are already calculating project costs, and undergraduates are just beginning to feel like life is back to normal. Then a rumor breaks the peace. “ASUU might strike again.” The room goes quiet. You can almost hear the collective sigh from students across the country. Everyone’s thinking the same thing, not again.
The same old story, different actors
Once again, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is threatening to resume strike action. The trigger this time? The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, recently announced that the government had “met all the union’s demands.” ASUU says that statement is a lie, accusing the minister of misleading Nigerians and insisting that their grievances are far from resolved.
President Bola Tinubu has reportedly directed the minister to ensure that the issue is settled once and for all, but ASUU’s tone suggests the story is far from over. The union’s frustration isn’t about promises, but proof. They want actual payments, not more press statements. They say the revitalisation fund meant to improve universities has not reached the institutions, that salary arrears are still pending, and that academic promotions are being delayed.
So now we’re back to that familiar crossroad; ASUU says nothing has changed, and the government says everything has changed.
Students stuck in the middle, again
This back and forth isn’t just another national headline. It’s a direct hit on millions of young Nigerians who have built their dreams around a university system that can pause at any moment.
On X (Twitter), students are already reacting with a mix of anger and exhaustion. “We just finished catching up from the last strike,” one UNN student posted. “Now they’re threatening another one? Are we cursed?”
The emotional toll is heavy. Every strike means disrupted plans, delayed graduations, and lost motivation. Parents, too, are caught in the cycle, watching their children grow older in classrooms that never seem to stay open long enough. Employers complain that graduates are underprepared, but how do you stay sharp when your four-year degree stretches into seven?
The bigger problem: credibility and communication
This conflict is no longer just about money or infrastructure. It’s about credibility. Both sides are fighting for the last word in a long argument. The government wants to show that it is reforming education, while ASUU wants Nigerians to know it is not fooled by empty promises.
But the one thing missing in all this noise is transparency. Nigerians are tired of hearing “we’ve paid” and “no, you haven’t.” There’s little proof accessible to the public, and that lack of clarity keeps fueling mistrust.
Maybe the question we should be asking is not who is lying, but why this drama keeps repeating. Why does every conversation between ASUU and the government end like a bad Nollywood sequel?
The hidden opportunity
Underneath all this frustration lies a real chance to change how industrial disputes in education are handled. Imagine a public tracker where citizens can see what each side has promised, when payments are made, and how much progress has been achieved. No more guessing games, no more propaganda.
There’s also room to give students a seat at the table. After all, they are the ones whose lives are being paused. Including student representatives in these discussions would bring a more grounded perspective, one that keeps everyone accountable.
The way forward
The government must learn that trust is not built through press conferences. It is built through proof. Show the receipts, release official records of payments, and let universities confirm receipt publicly. That is the only way to end the endless cycle of denial and blame.
ASUU, on the other hand, needs to evolve its approach. Industrial action should not always be the first or only language of protest. There are new advocacy models that rely on policy engagement, public accountability, and collaboration with reform-focused civil groups.
And for students, awareness is power. Understanding the specifics of what ASUU is demanding, from revitalisation funds to earned academic allowances, is the first step toward meaningful advocacy. Young Nigerians have already shown they can shape national conversations when they unite around a cause. Education should be one of those causes.
A final thought
Every strike leaves a scar on Nigeria’s already fragile education system. Each semester lost is another layer of frustration added to a generation that is just trying to build a future.
The question isn’t whether ASUU will strike again, but rather; how long we can keep living in this loop before the system breaks completely.
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