Nigeria’s public universities have once again been plunged into paralysis, with classrooms empty and campuses deserted not because lecturers are unwilling to teach or students refuse to learn, but due to what observers describe as the government’s persistent insincerity and failure to fulfill its obligations to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
In a strongly worded commentary published by The Sun, veteran journalist and public affairs analyst, Azare, lamented that the repeated closure of public universities has become a tragic routine, fueled by what he termed the government’s “policy of broken promises.” He noted that successive administrations have consistently entered into agreements with ASUU covering issues such as improved funding, staff welfare, and infrastructure development only to renege on these commitments once the strikes are suspended.
Azare argued that the situation reflects a broader culture of dishonesty in governance, where political leaders make promises for convenience but fail to follow through once public attention fades. “Nigeria’s tragedy is not the unwillingness of its teachers to work or its students to learn,” he wrote, “but the deliberate negligence of those in power who have turned deceit into statecraft.”
He further warned that the recurring industrial actions are crippling the nation’s education system, eroding public confidence, and pushing talented students and lecturers to seek opportunities abroad. The consequences, he added, go beyond the university gates affecting the quality of the workforce, national productivity, and Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Azare called on the federal government to engage ASUU with sincerity, implement past agreements, and make education a genuine national priority. He emphasized that ending the cycle of strikes requires not just temporary settlements, but a sustained commitment to transparency, accountability, and respect for collective bargaining.
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