President Bola Tinubu has described the absence of prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as one of the major achievements of his administration, saying it has brought relief to Nigerian students and their families.
The president made the remarks on Tuesday while receiving the leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House in Abuja.
Tinubu said students in public universities can now complete their programmes within the expected duration, unlike previous years when repeated ASUU strikes disrupted academic calendars.
“None of your children in university today, and I would say they are all your children because you are reverend fathers, can say a four-year course is not four years. ASUU is not on strike. They are not bringing agony to your homes. Is that not an answer to our prayers? To me, that’s an answer,” he said.
The president also acknowledged that Nigerians have faced economic difficulties since he assumed office but maintained that his administration inherited many of the country’s challenges from the previous government.
According to Tinubu, his government has succeeded in stabilising the economy and is laying the foundation for better days ahead.
“I inherited the assets and liabilities of my predecessor, and I’ve been running with it. But this government has stabilised and there is prosperity on the horizon. The quality of life is improving,” he stated.
Speaking on security, Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration remains committed to tackling the country’s challenges.
“The security situation is what it is. We don’t have another country but here. This Nigeria… in its complexity and diversity, we shall thrive, rejoice and be good to all of us,” he added.
Nigeria’s university system has experienced several industrial actions by ASUU over the years, leading to significant disruptions in academic activities.
Between 1999 and 2022, the union embarked on multiple strikes that resulted in more than five years of lost academic time, with the eight-month strike in 2022 remaining the longest in its history.
