The House of Representatives has resolved to intervene in the ongoing two-week warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), following a motion of urgent national importance raised on Tuesday by Sesi Whingham (APC, Lagos).

Whingham, while presenting the motion during plenary, expressed concern that the latest industrial action, though described by ASUU as a warning strike, could snowball into another prolonged shutdown of academic activities across Nigerian universities. He warned that the recurring disputes between the federal government and ASUU continue to threaten the stability of the country’s higher education system.

According to the lawmaker, the current impasse stems from unmet commitments related to the revitalisation of public universities, payment of earned academic allowances, salary structure review, and issues of university autonomy — key components of the 2009 and subsequent renegotiated agreements between both parties. He noted that repeated strikes have led to student dropouts, brain drain, and loss of public confidence in Nigeria’s education sector, thereby undermining national development goals.

Adopting the motion without debate, the House mandated its leadership, led by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, to immediately engage both the federal government and ASUU to find a lasting solution to the dispute. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, referred the matter to an ad-hoc committee chaired by the Speaker. The committee is expected to meet with stakeholders and present recommendations to the House.

The lawmakers also appealed to both the federal government and ASUU to exercise restraint and prioritise the interests of students and national development. Meanwhile, universities across the country have fully complied with ASUU’s strike directive, resulting in a total suspension of academic and administrative activities nationwide.