The Federal Government has criticized the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), declaring that the lecturers’ decision to embark on strike was unnecessary and avoidable.

Government’s Position

In a forceful statement, the Federal Government (FG) accused ASUU of disrupting academic calendars without sufficient justification.

It argued that many of the union’s demands could have been negotiated without resorting to industrial action.

Also Read: ASUU Rejects FG’s Proposal, Begins Two-Week Strike

Officials emphasized that prolonged strikes harm students — delaying graduations, undermining academic stability, and eroding confidence in the education system.

ASUU’s Justifications & Response

ASUU, on its part, has in past statements cited issues such as:

* Inadequate funding for public universities

* Delays in payment of earned allowances and promotions

* Infrastructure deficits

* Understaffing

While the FG dismissed the latest strike as avoidable, ASUU insists strikes are used as a last resort — a tool to press urgent demands when dialogue fails.

Education Sector at a Crossroads

This clash places the higher education sector in a precarious position. The repeated pattern of strikes has:

* Interrupted academic progress across Nigeria’s public universities

* Forced students into months of idleness

* Sparked concerns among parents and stakeholders about the value of public university education

Observers warn that without structural reforms, the standoff will recur.