Strikes in Nigeria and the Collapse of Public Service By Tahir Ahmad
In Nigeria today, the mere mention of “strike” barely raises eyebrows. It has become a familiar, unending cycle—from the lecture halls of universities to the wards of public hospitals.
The latest wave of industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), doctors, and nurses serves as yet another reminder of how fragile public service institutions remain and how the government’s lack of sincerity continues to fuel recurring unrest.
For ASUU, this battle is far from new. Their longstanding grievance stems from the now infamous 2009 Agreement, signed during the era of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. The 51-page document promised better salaries, allowances, pensions, health insurance, revitalisation funds, and autonomy for universities.
Sixteen years later, much of this agreement remains unimplemented. Academics in 2025 are still earning salaries negotiated in 2009—salaries that have lost more than 1,000% of their value in dollar terms due to inflation and currency depreciation.
The Education Minister, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, initially denied the existence of a binding agreement with ASUU, only to retract later and admit otherwise. This double-speak has defined government-union relations for decades, leaving a trail of distrust, confrontation, and recurring strikes.
Yet ASUU is not without its critics. Observers note the union’s tendency to frame every agitation around the 2009 Agreement while resisting reforms like the government’s student loan initiative.
ASUU’s new president, Prof. Chris Piwuna, dismissed the scheme as unrealistic, insisting that without jobs or economic stability, repayment would be impossible. He argued that scholarships or grants would better serve students. While this critique has merit, it highlights ASUU’s cautious approach to reforms that could expand access to higher education.
Their reluctance toward private universities underscores a desire to protect existing members’ interests, even as Nigeria faces a growing demand for quality tertiary education.
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The health sector mirrors the same pattern of neglect. Doctors and nurses have repeatedly threatened industrial action over unpaid salaries, poor welfare, and unsafe working conditions. With Nigeria losing many skilled health professionals to migration, one would expect urgent intervention.
Some progress has emerged at the state level; for example, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State approved a new minimum wage of ₦104,000 and increased doctors’ pay to ₦533,000. While commendable, these piecemeal solutions cannot replace a coherent national strategy to retain Nigeria’s medical talent.
The consequences of these strikes extend beyond wages. When lecturers walk away, semesters collapse, universities falter, and graduates enter the labour market underprepared. When doctors and nurses abandon hospitals, preventable deaths rise, and patients are forced into private care they often cannot afford.
At the core lies a simple truth: underfunded, underpaid, and underappreciated professionals cannot build the strong institutions Nigeria urgently needs.
The path forward requires action from both sides. The federal government must end its habit of signing agreements it does not intend to honour. The 2009 ASUU Agreement cannot remain in limbo. Renegotiation must be conducted in good faith, with clear timelines and accountability.
For the health sector, wages must reflect economic realities, and retention policies must keep Nigerian doctors and nurses at home. Unions, too, must rethink their approach. Perpetual strikes erode public sympathy and weaken their credibility.
Constructive engagement, openness to reform, and prioritising the welfare of students and patients can help unions regain trust and legitimacy.
Nigeria cannot pursue a knowledge-based economy with crumbling universities, nor can it aim for universal health coverage while public hospitals remain empty shells. Both the government and unions must act with sincerity, recognising that their quarrels affect the most vulnerable Nigerians.
Until meaningful change occurs, the cycle continues: promises made and broken, strikes that disrupt, and ordinary citizens who suffer in silence.
Tahir Ahmad is a corps member serving at PRNigeria Centre, Abuja. He can be reached via: [email protected].
