ASUU strike grounds universities across Nigeria, leaving students stranded and worsening hardship for small business owners

ASUU strike has paralysed academic activities in several Nigerian universities this week, leaving students stranded and small businesses struggling to survive.

Also read: ASUU Demands Funding Boost to End Strikes, Warns FG

The two-week warning strike, declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday, was triggered by the Federal Government’s failure to sign a renegotiated agreement concluded eight months ago by the Yayale Ahmed-led committee.

ASUU University of Ibadan Chairman, Dr Adefemi Afolabi, said the union embarked on the strike reluctantly after months of patience and unheeded protests.

He accused the government of employing “delay tactics” and showing “utter disregard for collective bargaining.”

According to Afolabi, “This is a waste of time and resources, an indication that the government is only interested in wasting our time and not ready to resolve the welfare and conditions of service of lecturers.”

Across campuses in Ibadan, Imo, Jos, and Uyo, lecture halls have gone silent. Hostels are emptying out, and surrounding communities that thrive on student patronage are reeling from the economic shock.

At the University of Ibadan, food vendor Tunde Ajayi told our correspondent that sales had plummeted since classes stopped. “Once ASUU began the strike, students stopped coming around. I sold less than half of what I usually sell,” he said.

Another trader, Bose Ogunleye, described the situation as “a big blow,” adding that most shop owners had already closed up and travelled.

Students have not been spared the frustration. Opeyemi, a 300-level student, said the strike was “emotionally draining,” while Aminat, a final-year student, feared her graduation would be delayed.

Similar scenes played out at Imo State University, where kiosk owners, shuttle drivers, and cyber café operators lamented poor patronage.

A vendor, Nkechi Okere, said she had begun using her savings to survive. “I used to make around ₦4,000 daily, but now I barely sell anything,” she said.

In Jos, Jude Izang, who runs a business centre near the University of Jos, said most students had left campus, and lecturers had stopped visiting due to the strike. “Now the place is empty. The strike made a bad situation worse,” he lamented.

At the University of Uyo, business operators also counted losses. Restaurant owner Ekemini Akpan said patronage had dropped drastically, while a stationery seller, Christian Udo, regretted opening his shop.

The ASUU Strike has also crippled internal exams in some universities, as non-academic staff were barred from supervising assessments by the national union.

A lecturer who spoke anonymously confirmed that ASUU members were avoiding school premises to comply with union directives. “Even when students need help, we can’t attend to them publicly,” he said.

As the strike enters its second week, tension mounts among students and workers alike, with many urging both ASUU and the Federal Government to find a quick resolution.

A tricycle rider in Jos, Ibrahim Ademola, summed up the mood: “The strike affects everyone. We just want them to settle so that life can return to normal.”

Also read: Senate Mediates ASUU-FG Dispute to End University Strike

The ASUU Strike, which began as a warning, has now evolved into a powerful reminder of the fragile state of Nigeria’s higher education system—and the deep human cost of unresolved industrial disputes.