Education Minister Promises End to ASUU Strikes After Tinubu’s Directive — Nigerians React with Skepticism

Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has vowed to permanently end the recurring Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strikes by addressing long-standing grievances, including unpaid salaries and improved university funding.

The announcement, made on November 4, 2025, follows a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urging swift resolution to the lingering crisis, as confirmed by multiple credible news outlets.

An accompanying political cartoon circulating online poignantly captures the human toll of the academic instability — showing a visibly dejected student in graduation robes holding a placard that reads “ASUU STRIKE.”

The image symbolizes the shattered hopes of millions of Nigerian students whose education has been repeatedly disrupted, with UNESCO estimates indicating that over five academic years have been collectively lost since 1999 due to incessant strikes.

However, the online reaction has been far from celebratory. Many Nigerians, particularly students and educators, remain doubtful, citing the government’s history of unfulfilled promises and unimplemented agreements with ASUU.

The skepticism deepened following ASUU’s suspension of its October 2025 warning strike without a conclusive settlement.

While Alausa’s commitment has sparked cautious optimism, the prevailing sentiment remains one of weary patience — a reflection of decades of educational uncertainty in Africa’s most populous nation.