Students of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, may have to stay away from their classrooms for some time, as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has declared an indefinite strike at the institution.
The Lapai branch of ASUU announced the industrial action on Monday after an emergency congress and a press conference held at the university premises. The union said the decision followed what it described as repeated engagements and appeals to the Niger State Government over the non-implementation of key provisions of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.
Chairman of ASUU-IBBU, Galadima Bala, explained that the strike became necessary because efforts to resolve the matter had not produced the expected result. He said the agreement was reached with the involvement of state governments and public universities and should be fully implemented to maintain stability in the university system.
According to the union, about 16 state-owned universities across the country have already started implementing the agreement. The institutions are located in states including Bauchi, Gombe, Benue, Yobe, Osun, Ekiti and Kano.
The union also pointed to Nasarawa State University, which it said had begun implementation, warning that Niger State could be left behind if the outstanding issues were not addressed.
ASUU-IBBU further raised concerns about the movement of lecturers away from institutions where the agreement has not been implemented. The union cited a claim that Kaduna State University had lost more than 200 lecturers, although the institution has disputed the figure.
The lecturers warned that continued neglect of the university system could have serious consequences for education, youth development and the wider progress and security of the state.
The union is therefore calling on the Niger State Government to urgently address its concerns and take concrete steps towards implementing the outstanding provisions of the agreement.
However, ASUU-IBBU said its doors remain open for genuine dialogue, stressing that the strike could be suspended once the government shows clear commitment and takes concrete action towards resolving the issues.
The development has understandably raised concerns among students and parents, who may now be worried about another disruption to the academic calendar. For students, an indefinite strike means uncertainty over lectures, examinations and graduation plans.
Some members of the public may feel that lecturers have no choice if previous negotiations have failed, while others may argue that students should not continue to bear the consequences of disagreements between government and university unions.
For many parents, the biggest question is simple: how long will this strike last, and what is the government doing to bring the students back to class?
ASUU has appealed to its members to remain calm and law-abiding during the industrial action, while also apologising for the inconvenience the strike may cause students, parents and other stakeholders.
