Treat ASUU Strike as National Emergency – Olanipekun
A prominent legal icon and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, has urged Nigerians to treat the recurring strike actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as a national emergency that requires urgent collective action and support.
Olanipekun made the call in July 2022 while delivering the National Public Service Lecture of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, themed “Building Blocks For Unbundling the Critical Problems Plaguing Education in Nigeria….”
According to the legal luminary, the frequent strikes and unresolved crises in the university system have gone beyond being mere labour disputes and now represent a systemic threat to Nigeria’s future workforce and development.
“If we placed premium emphasis on education, how much is ASUU requesting that we cannot give? These lecturers are not just fighting for themselves, they are fighting for the future of public education in the country. This is the time for all prominent Nigerians including alumni associations to fight for the education of our youth,” Olanipekun said.
He added that treating the crisis as a national emergency would compel individuals, alumni groups, civil society and government to take bolder and sustained actions to salvage Nigeria’s public universities from prolonged decline.
Olanipekun also warned that without urgent intervention, Nigeria’s tertiary institutions risk collapse as the government’s response to ongoing strike actions has been inconsistent and insufficient over the years.
The advocacy by Olanipekun highlights growing concerns among stakeholders that the education crisis — marked by frequent ASUU strikes, underfunding, and stalled negotiations — has deep implications for national progress and human capital development.
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FAQs – Treat ASUU Strike as a National Emergency
Who is Olanipekun and why is his statement significant?
Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, is a respected legal scholar and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association. His call to treat the ASUU strike as a national emergency underscores broad concern about the long-term impact of recurring strikes on Nigeria’s education system and future workforce.
What did Olanipekun mean by a “national emergency”?
By describing the ASUU strike as a national emergency, Olanipekun emphasised that the crisis goes beyond union-government disagreements. It affects the entire country’s development prospects, requiring urgent support from the government, professionals, alumni, and civil society groups.
When did Olanipekun make this call?
He delivered the 2022 National Public Service Lecture of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association in July 2022.
What solutions did he propose?
Olanipekun urged alumni associations and influential Nigerians to actively engage in reviving public universities and ensuring stable academic calendars, rather than relying solely on government action.
Why is ASUU’s strike considered a problem for Nigeria’s future?
Recurring ASUU strikes disrupt academic activities, delay graduations, increase educational costs, and contribute to brain drain, which collectively hinder national growth and reduce opportunities for young Nigerians.
