APC Governors Urge ASUU to Embrace Dialogue Over Strike

Governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) have urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities to engage in dialogue to resolve their issues, stating that negotiation is the only viable solution for the challenges facing the education sector.

This request was made following a two-day gathering of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, which took place in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, from October 16 to 17, 2025.

In his remarks after the gathering, the forum chairman and governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, called on the university lecturers to “lay down their arms and return to the negotiating table for the benefit of the nation’s education system.”

He characterized the meeting as a significant opportunity for reflecting on Nigeria’s socio-economic trajectory and reassessing the contributions of states to national transformation.

The forum also praised the collaborative approach among federal, state, and local governments, calling it an exemplary model of cooperative federalism and inclusive development.

A notable aspect of the meeting was the official induction of Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, into the APC. Uzodimma referred to Mbah’s switch as “historic”, noting it raised the number of APC governors to 24 across the country.

“Governor Mbah’s choice to join us strengthens the party’s national appeal and affirms the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” added the PGF chairman.

The governors also recognized President Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership for what they termed “a new era of inclusivity, ideological clarity, and national consolidation”.

They expressed contentment with current fiscal reforms, food security initiatives, power sector stabilization, infrastructure modernization, and social intervention programs under the present administration.

Uzodimma mentioned that the forum acknowledged steady economic growth, decreasing inflation and interest rates, and enhanced revenues at all levels of government.

Additionally, the governors commended the president’s initiatives through the National Economic Council, which they noted are broadening economic opportunities throughout Nigeria’s 8,809 electoral wards.

“The Progressive Governors’ Forum applauds President Tinubu’s vision and reaffirms its collective commitment to support all policies and programs associated with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” declared Uzodimma.