The prolonged lack of consensus between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Nigerian governments has led to frequent strikes, intensifying systemic disruptions inside academia. These strikes, indicative of profound institutional crises, highlight the vulnerable condition of higher education (HE) in Nigeria, with significant consequences for students, societal advancement, and the viability of the educational sector amidst global transition. This study investigates the influence of ASUU strikes on Nigerian students and the larger society, and enhances the discourse on sustainable HE in Nigeria by proposing for institutional reforms that reduce disruption risks and address structural disparities. The study employs qualitative documentary analysis, utilising secondary data from scholarly journals, institutional reports, and media archives, framed within Weberian action theory, to examine the dynamics of agency, institutional limitations, and reached interests in ASUU-government conflicts and their effects on students and society as a whole. The study indicates that repeated strikes adversely affect public university students, creating psychosocial weaknesses, exacerbating disparities with private-sector counterparts, and hindering society progress by diminishing graduation quality. The study recommends the immediate revision of government-ASUU agreements and enhanced budgetary allocations to rejuvenate Nigeria's public HE sector. The study advocates a multifaceted intervention comprising incremental budget increases to 20% by 2030, the establishment of a Tripartite Education Council for mediation, diversified revenue via Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and compensatory support programs for students, aimed at reconciling ASUU demands with fiscal limitations while alleviating the risks of strike-induced brain drain, youth radicalisation, and threats to national development.

Authors:
Gabriel Obimuyiwa, Kazan Federal University, Russia
Salehova Lyalya, Kazan Federal University, Russia
Dorcas Daramola, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

About the Presenter(s)
Obimuyiwa Gabriel Ayodeji is currently a Ph.D. student at Kazan Federal University, Russia. Born in Ojodu, Lagos State, Nigeria, his areas of specialization include Higher Education, Quality Education, Digital Education, Curriculum Theory, Educational Assessment, and Teaching Methods.

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