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The League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State has expressed deep concern over the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), saying it not only endangers the education of young Nigerians but also exposes them to social vices such as crime and drug abuse.
The clerics noted that the constant disruption of academic activities continues to weaken the nation’s educational quality, producing graduates who are less competitive on the global stage. They added that the situation has also worsened brain drain, as both students and lecturers now seek academic stability in other countries.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Secretary General, Imam Tajudeen Adewunmi, the religious leaders called on the Federal Government to take swift and decisive action to permanently resolve the crisis.
According to the statement, the protracted strike has created financial hardship for parents and guardians who still bear the cost of rent and upkeep despite schools being closed.
Parts of the statement read: “As religious leaders, we cannot remain silent when the education of our youths and the stability of our nation are repeatedly placed in jeopardy. Each round of strike leaves behind painful scars. Students are trapped in prolonged academic calendars, unable to graduate when expected.
“Parents and guardians are weighed down financially, paying for accommodation and living expenses even while schools remain shut. Families endure emotional stress as uncertainty about the future of their children grows heavier. Beyond this, the long periods of idleness expose young people to vices such as crime, drug abuse and restlessness, problems that later spill over into our communities.
“The effect on the nation is equally profound. Frequent disruptions weaken the quality of education, producing graduates who are less competitive globally. Continuous strikes encourage brain drain, as both students and lecturers seek stability abroad. Local businesses around campuses collapse during closures, affecting livelihoods. More dangerously, the repeated instability erodes trust in our public institutions, weakening the hope and faith of citizens in the future of Nigeria.
“We therefore appeal to the Federal Government to take urgent and concrete steps toward resolving these issues once and for all. This includes ensuring fair and sustainable remuneration for lecturers, improving infrastructure and teaching facilities across universities and providing continuous funding for research and innovation to drive national development.”
The League also appealed to ASUU to embrace genuine dialogue conducted in good faith, stressing that while their grievances are valid, prolonged strikes only worsen the suffering of students, families, and the nation as a whole.
In its strike bulletin no. 2, released by the National Strike Coordinating Committee (NSCC) and signed by Dr Christopher Piwuna over the weekend, ASUU confirmed that discussions with the Federal Government had begun concerning its ongoing industrial action.
This development follows ASUU’s declaration of a two-week warning strike the previous Monday, which has brought academic activities in public universities across Nigeria to a halt.
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