All eyes have returned to Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. While federal universities are currently operating smoothly, several state-owned universities are facing renewed disruptions to their academic calendars.
From Lagos to Plateau, Kaduna to Taraba, the longstanding problem of academic interruptions is resurfacing in state institutions. Despite enjoying increased revenues, state governors must address these persistent challenges.
In recent years, public universities in Nigeria were notorious for prolonged strikes. However, President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ending industrial action among lecturers appears to be working at the federal level. The Federal Government’s decision in January to increase university staff salaries by 40 percent has restored stability in federal institutions.
Conversely, strikes have resurfaced at some state-owned universities. The states have little justification for this situation. With the removal of petrol subsidies, the floating of the naira, and an expanded tax net—including VAT—state governments are financially stronger than before.
Since 2009, recurring strikes have plagued public universities, and Tinubu promised to resolve this. Before the current administration’s intervention, the 2009 agreement for N1.51 trillion to revitalize universities and improve staff remuneration was poorly implemented. The consequences are clear: in the latest Webometrics ranking, Nigeria’s top university—the University of Ibadan—sits at 1,291st in the world, followed by the University of Lagos (1,355) and the University of Nigeria (1,397). These standings are discouraging.
A major turning point was the December 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which included a 40 percent pay rise for lecturers, an annual credit allowance of N1.8 million for professors, N840,000 to N870,000 for academic readers, and improved pensions.
Ironically, Lagos State—home to President Tinubu—has become the latest arena for strikes, after failed negotiations between the government and unions representing the state’s three universities. According to ASUU chapters at Lagos State University, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, and Lagos State University of Education, the government failed to implement the 2025 agreement, even after a 14-day notice.
In Kaduna, the ASUU chapter at Kaduna State University ended its strike after Governor Uba Sani agreed to implement the agreement from October 1. Similarly, Plateau State University’s ASUU chapter called off its strike once the state government agreed to their six-point demand. However, lecturers at Ondo State’s three universities remain on strike over non-implementation, and Taraba State University’s ASUU chapter has issued a 14-day ultimatum for compliance with the pact, expiring September 28.
These inconsistencies highlight the flaws in Nigeria’s federal structure. The Federal Government took the lead in ASUU negotiations and has implemented the agreement, while many states lag behind for unclear reasons. Overreach by the centre in university administration and funding is problematic in a true federation—states should have greater autonomy in managing their own institutions.
The experience of private universities is instructive. With 182 private institutions nationwide, their independence and self-sustained funding allow them to set compensation as they see fit, and strikes over pay are virtually unknown. State universities could benefit from similar autonomy and financial discipline.
State governments also bear responsibility. There are currently 69 state-owned universities, with some states running more than three. Many established these institutions without adequate plans for funding, staffing, or infrastructure—an unsustainable approach. Universities should not be treated as mere political trophies.
To address these challenges, the Federal Government imposed a seven-year moratorium on new university creation. Going forward, the National Universities Commission must rigorously scrutinize applications for new institutions, whether from the federal or state governments, or private entrepreneurs, to ensure proper preparation and long-term viability.
