APC Governors Urge ASUU to Return to Dialogue, Seek End to Looming Strike

Governors under the All Progressives Congress (APC) have appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to embrace dialogue in resolving its dispute with the Federal Government, warning that a warning strike could disrupt Nigeria’s education system.

The appeal was made at the end of a two-day meeting of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), which held in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, from October 16 to 17, 2025.

Reading the communiqué, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who chairs the forum, said negotiation remains the most effective and patriotic path toward addressing the grievances of university lecturers.

“We urge ASUU to return to the dialogue table in the interest of the nation’s education sector,” Uzodimma said, emphasizing that constructive engagement is vital for long-term stability in Nigerian universities.

The APC governors also discussed ways to improve coordination among federal, state, and local governments, stressing that stronger collaboration was essential to achieving inclusive growth and development across the country.

ASUU had earlier warned of an impending strike over the Federal Government’s failure to fulfill past agreements, including unpaid allowances and funding for revitalization of public universities. The governors’ intervention is seen as a move to prevent a repeat of prolonged industrial actions that have historically crippled academic calendars nationwide.