Nigeria TV Info — Senate Intervenes in ASUU Strike, Moves to Prevent Total Shutdown of Public Universities

Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigerian Senate has waded into the ongoing two-week warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), launching an urgent intervention aimed at averting a total breakdown of academic activities across public universities nationwide.

In a decisive move, the Red Chamber—through its Committees on Labour, and on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND—held a closed-door meeting with ASUU’s national leadership at the National Assembly on Friday. A follow-up session involving key government officials has been scheduled for next week.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Senator Muntari Dandutse (Katsina South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, said the lawmakers were committed to facilitating a speedy resolution to the impasse before it snowballs into a full-blown, indefinite strike.

> “After meeting with the national leadership of ASUU on the way out of the current strike and the looming indefinite one, we have resolved to convene a very important meeting with relevant government agencies, particularly the Minister of Education and the Executive Secretary of NUC, next week,” Dandutse stated.

He further revealed that the committees would also meet with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, following allegations of land encroachment at the University of Abuja.

Dandutse emphasized that the Senate is taking the union’s grievances seriously, noting that the strike has already disrupted academic calendars and could further deteriorate the country’s higher education system if not urgently resolved.