The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria’s university system lost a cumulative five years to industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the decade preceding President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2023. The government said the frequent disruptions extended academic calendars, weakened learning outcomes, and affected the global competitiveness of graduates.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja during the launch of the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Business Incubation Certification (EIBIC) programme. He noted that repeated shutdowns in public tertiary institutions led to delayed graduations and declining student motivation, adding that the current administration has significantly reduced such disruptions through proactive engagement with ASUU.

Alausa stated that the government’s interventions have restored stability to the academic calendar, allowing students to complete programmes within the stipulated duration. “In the last 10 years, we recorded nearly 1,700 lost academic days due to about 52 ASUU strikes. That amounts to almost five years. Since May 2023, that has been reduced to zero,” he said, adding that a four-year degree can now be completed in four years.

Despite the government’s claims, concerns are mounting over a possible fresh industrial action by ASUU due to delays in implementing a renegotiated agreement. The deal, which includes a 40 per cent salary increase, improved pensions, and enhanced academic allowances, was expected to take effect from January 2026 but has yet to be fully implemented in many federal universities.

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, has warned that the union may take decisive action if there is no progress, citing delays linked to budget approvals. Meanwhile, critics, including the Education Rights Campaign, have challenged the government’s claims, arguing that the focus on lost years overlooks deeper issues such as underfunding, poor infrastructure, and deteriorating working conditions, which continue to affect the quality of education in the country.