Opinion: Why Universities' Academic Calendars Have Been Stable Over The Past Couple Of Years

According to a recent report in Premier Times, academic calendars of our ivory towers have been stable for the past couple of years. This stability becomes obvious with the fact that there have not been industrial unrest by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) in the last 2 or so. What can be the reasons this stability?

One of the things that has been done to achieve stability in our universities is the strengthening of institution governance in the federal universities. Tinubu’s administration has taken steps to enforce good governance in Nigerian universities. A notable intervention was the dissolution of the governing council at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), followed by the appointment of a new Acting Vice-Chancellor. Vanguard news recently reported that the Alumni of UNN praised this move as essential for restoring “integrity in the recruitment process". Such actions help stabilize leadership and minimize administrative disruptions.

Students been lectured in a Nigerian university

There have also been financial reforms in the universities. While full resolution of union demands remains pending, the government did release ₦50 billion for earned academic allowances—though distribution sparked some debate. Importantly, Tinubu’s 2025 budget allocated ₦3.52 trillion to education, placing it among the top national priorities as per Leadership newspaper. The removal of universities from the IPPIS payroll system and approval of recruitment waivers have also aimed to ensure prompt payment of staff and ease hiring bottlenecks. These are critical elements in maintaining academic stability .

The implementation of a new Curriculum has also helped. A major overhaul of the tertiary syllabus was completed within a year of current administration. This has helped to embed digital skills, AI, robotics, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking into the curricula. Interestingly, many universities have migrated from BMAS to CCMAS to strengthen research and critical skills acquisition by our undergraduates. There are also ongoing investments to replenish academic infrastructure and help shield programs from stagnation.

Early in Tinubu’s term, there was a push for full financial autonomy for tertiary institutions. This reform is meant to allow them to generate revenue through grants, sponsorships, and more . This reduces dependence on unpredictable federal funding and supports program continuity. Crucially, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), launched in April 2024, has provided billions in student loans to over 200,000 students, helping them stay in school and keep academic programs on track.

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