FROM AGREEMENT TO ACTION: POLICY IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES OF THE 2026 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT–ASUU AGREEMENT IN NIGERIA’S PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Abstract

The recurrent industrial disputes between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have continued to undermine the stability and development of Nigeria’s public university system. Although several agreements have been negotiated over the years to address issues of funding, staff welfare, university autonomy, and governance, poor implementation has resulted in prolonged strikes, disrupted academic calendars, and declining educational quality. In January 2026, the Federal Government and ASUU signed a renegotiated agreement aimed at ending long-standing disputes and restoring industrial harmony. Despite its comprehensive provisions and official assurances of funding, concerns persist regarding the feasibility of effective implementation given Nigeria’s historical record of non-compliance with similar agreements. This study examines the challenges likely to confront the implementation of the newly signed FG–ASUU agreement. Anchored on Policy Implementation Theory, particularly the top–down and bottom–up approaches, the study adopts a position paper research design and relies on qualitative analysis of secondary data drawn from official statements, policy documents, newspaper reports, and scholarly literature. Findings reveal that weak university autonomy, chronic underfunding, bureaucratic inefficiencies, governance and accountability gaps, political interference, economic pressures, and deep-rooted trust deficits constitute major threats to successful implementation. The study concludes that without deliberate institutional reforms, sustained political will, and effective monitoring mechanisms, the new agreement risks replicating the failures of previous accords. The paper therefore offers policy-oriented recommendations aimed at strengthening implementation capacity, restoring trust, and ensuring sustainable development of Nigeria’s public university system.