The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has opened discussions with the Senate as its two-week warning strike enters the fifth day. The union reaffirmed its demand for improved funding of Nigerian universities to promote scholarly research, infrastructure development, and better remuneration for academic staff, which it described as the lowest in Africa.

The ongoing strike, which began on Monday, October 13, 2025, was triggered by allegations that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory sought to appropriate part of the land belonging to the University of Abuja. The union also raised concerns over the Ministry of Education’s decision to share a portion of the ₦50 billion allocated to universities with polytechnics and colleges of education.

During the meeting with the Senate, ASUU expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving ₦150 billion for universities across the country and for directing a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new public tertiary institutions. The union, however, maintained that more concrete steps are needed to address the persistent challenges facing the nation’s universities.

Meanwhile, lawmakers have appealed to both ASUU and the relevant ministries to find a common ground in the interest of students and the stability of the education sector. The Senate emphasized its commitment to facilitating dialogue and ensuring a sustainable resolution to the ongoing industrial dispute.