IBBUL Management, Niger Government Push for Dialogue with ASUU as Students' Welfare Takes Centre Stage

The management of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, and the Niger State Government have intensified efforts to resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, with emphasis on protecting students' welfare and academic stability.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, who spoke on Prestige FM's morning programme, Nigeria Today, said the institution has resolved virtually all administrative issues relating to the implementation of the December 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement, which introduced a new salary regime with a 40 percent increase for academic staff and other provisions.

Professor Sulaiman explained that the financial implications of the agreement have been submitted to the state government, noting that his engagements with the Visitor, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, the national leadership of ASUU and the Commissioner for Tertiary Education were aimed at addressing what he described as a breakdown in communication among the parties.

He disclosed that Governor Bago has expressed readiness to chair a joint meeting in Lapai involving the government, University management, the unions and other stakeholders once the strike is suspended.

Also speaking on the programme, the Commissioner overseeing Tertiary Education, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi Sheshi, said the state government has made considerable efforts to engage ASUU. He disclosed that government will continue to release N200 million monthly from September 2026 to January 2027 to ease the financial burden, and appealed to ASUU to call off the strike and return to negotiations. He assured parents that there is no plan at the moment to increase tuition fees to meet the union's demands.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Suraj Sa'id, said government had held four meetings with the union after receiving its demands and had repeatedly appealed for time to enable the Visitor consider the issues and take necessary decisions.

In her contribution, the Director-General, Schools and Education Reform, Hajiya Maimuna Mohammed, said while the concerns of academic staff over welfare and outstanding agreements are legitimate, prolonged strikes place the heaviest burden on students and their families, disrupting academic calendars, delaying graduation and increasing pressure on parents. She stressed that the development of IBBUL requires cooperation rather than prolonged confrontation.

Similarly, the Director-General, Students Affairs, Niger State, Honourable Bello Barau Sharif, said students have already lost several weeks of lectures ahead of second semester examinations, creating uncertainty and psychological pressure. He disclosed that his directorate has been engaging student leaders to remain calm and avoid protests that could worsen the situation.

Both officials appealed to all parties to prioritise dialogue and suspend the strike to allow negotiations to continue, noting that students should not bear the consequences of unresolved disagreements.