Nigeria’s tertiary education sector is once again facing concerns over disruptions to academic activities as industrial disputes resurface in several state-owned universities.
While many federal universities have experienced greater stability in recent months, lecturers in some state institutions have embarked on strikes or issued ultimatums over the implementation of agreements reached between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The renewed disputes have raised questions about how agreements negotiated at the federal level are implemented across state-owned universities and whether state governments have sufficient funding arrangements to sustain their institutions.
ASUU Agreement at the Center of the Disputes
A major issue behind the current disagreements is the December 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement, which addressed issues including lecturers’ salaries, university funding, research and welfare.
Under the agreement, the Federal Government moved to increase the salaries of university lecturers by 40 per cent.
Other provisions reportedly include annual credit allowances for academic staff and improvements relating to pensions and other conditions of service.
However, implementation has not been uniform across all state-owned universities.
This has resulted in different situations from one state to another, with some universities experiencing strikes while others have suspended industrial action after their respective state governments agreed to implement some or all of the demands.
Lagos Universities Join the List
One of the latest disputes has emerged in Lagos State.
The ASUU chapters of Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUST) and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) reportedly declared a strike following disagreements with the Lagos State Government.
The unions said the state government had failed to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement despite an earlier notice.
The development has placed the academic calendar of the affected institutions under pressure and could affect students if the dispute continues.
Kaduna University Strike Ends
The situation has been different in Kaduna State.
Lecturers at Kaduna State University had embarked on industrial action over the implementation of the agreement but later suspended the strike after Governor Uba Sani approved implementation of the agreement from October 1.
The development illustrates how negotiations between individual state governments and university unions can produce different outcomes even when the underlying demands are similar.
Plateau State University Also Resumes
A similar development occurred at Plateau State University, Bokkos.
The institution's ASUU chapter had suspended academic activities over issues connected to the implementation of the agreement.
The strike was terminated on September 16 after the union said the state government had agreed to address its six-point demands.
Students at the university can therefore return to their academic activities following the resolution of the dispute.
Ondo Universities Still Facing Dispute
The situation remains unresolved in Ondo State, where lecturers in the state's three public universities are reportedly still on strike.
The dispute centres on the implementation of the Federal Government-ASUU agreement and other demands raised by the academic union.
Continued industrial action could affect lectures, examinations, academic programmes and graduation schedules if an agreement is not reached.
Taraba ASUU Issues Ultimatum
In Taraba State, the ASUU chapter of Taraba State University, Jalingo, reportedly issued a 14-day ultimatum to the state government on September 15.
The union is demanding implementation of the agreement and other outstanding issues.
The ultimatum is expected to expire on September 28, after which the union could take further action if the dispute remains unresolved.
Why State Universities Face A Different Situation
One of the major questions raised by the current disputes is why state-owned universities are experiencing industrial action when the Federal Government has taken steps to implement agreements reached with ASUU.
State universities are funded and administered primarily by their respective state governments.
This means that the implementation of salary adjustments, allowances, infrastructure projects and other commitments can depend significantly on decisions made at the state level.
As a result, an agreement reached between ASUU and the Federal Government does not automatically guarantee identical implementation across every state-owned university.
The Funding Challenge
Another issue is the rapid expansion of the university system.
Nigeria currently has numerous federal, state and private universities, with states establishing institutions to expand access to tertiary education.
However, establishing a university comes with significant recurring costs.
These include:
Academic staff salaries
Non-academic staff salaries
Laboratories
Libraries
ICT infrastructure
Student accommodation
Lecture halls
Research funding
Electricity and water
Maintenance
Administrative costs
When states establish new universities without sustainable long-term funding arrangements, maintaining existing institutions can become more difficult.
The Impact On Students
University strikes do not only affect lecturers and governments.
Students are often among those most affected.
A prolonged strike can lead to:
Delayed examinations
Disrupted lectures
Extended academic sessions
Delayed graduation
Problems with NYSC mobilisation timelines
Additional accommodation expenses
Delayed entry into the labour market
Disruption of postgraduate plans
For students who are already working with strict academic or career timelines, repeated interruptions can create additional difficulties.
Federal And State Universities Face Different Realities
The current situation also highlights the different administrative and funding structures between federal and state universities.
Federal universities depend largely on federal funding, while state universities are primarily the responsibility of state governments.
Consequently, the implementation of a national agreement can produce different outcomes depending on the institution and the government responsible for funding it.
This difference has become increasingly visible as ASUU chapters in individual states negotiate directly with their respective governments.
What Could Reduce Repeated University Strikes?
Several issues will need attention if Nigeria is to reduce recurring disruptions in public universities.
First, governments and university unions need clear mechanisms for implementing agreements after they are signed.
Second, funding commitments should be backed by realistic and sustainable budgets.
Third, universities need predictable funding for salaries, infrastructure and research rather than relying mainly on emergency interventions.
Finally, decisions to establish new universities should take into account whether the sponsoring government has the financial and human resources required to operate them effectively.
What This Means For Nigerian Students
For students, the latest developments are another reminder that the stability of an academic calendar can depend on more than admission and registration.
When choosing a university, students and parents may also want to consider factors such as:
The institution's academic calendar
Previous strike history
Funding structure
Available facilities
Programme accreditation
Staff strength
Cost of living
School fees
Distance from home
These factors do not guarantee that an institution will never experience disruption, but they can provide useful information when comparing universities.
The return of industrial disputes to some state-owned universities has brought renewed attention to the relationship between university funding, government commitments and academic stability.
While some institutions have resolved their disputes through negotiations, others remain affected by strikes or ultimatums.
The situation also demonstrates that Nigeria's university system cannot be treated as a single uniform structure. Federal and state universities operate under different funding and administrative arrangements, and implementation of national agreements can therefore vary from one institution to another.
For students, the immediate concern remains the same: a stable academic calendar that allows them to complete their education without unnecessary interruptions.
.jfif)
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