Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese, has cautioned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against joining the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in its ongoing strike, warning that such action could disrupt the Federal Government’s sweeping education reforms.
Agbese said the reforms, championed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, were beginning to yield tangible results and deserved time to stabilize.
His comment follows a four-week ultimatum by the NLC threatening to mobilize in solidarity with ASUU if the government fails to address unresolved issues in the tertiary education system.
Speaking with journalists after Tuesday’s plenary, Agbese urged restraint and dialogue, stressing that constant industrial actions have repeatedly derailed progress and hurt students.
“In developed countries, when progress begins to show, the people allow time for consolidation before raising new demands. That’s what we need now in our education system,” he said.
The Benue lawmaker commended Dr. Alausa for introducing reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and innovation. He cited key milestones such as the expansion of tertiary admission quotas from 750,000 to one million students and the harmonization of tuition policies under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
He also highlighted initiatives like the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) Roadmap, the Students Loan Scheme, and the World Bank-supported AGILE project as evidence of ongoing transformation in the sector.
“These initiatives are already yielding visible results, and the least we can do is sustain the momentum rather than disrupt it with another strike,” Agbese emphasized.
The lawmaker appealed to ASUU to abandon its “repetitive strike tactics” that have disrupted the academic calendar and inflicted hardship on students and families, urging the union to embrace dialogue instead.
He reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to mediate between the government and stakeholders, saying, “Our doors remain open. Let’s strengthen the system through cooperation, not cripple it through strikes.”
