An Assessment of ASUU Strikes since 1999 and Their Impact on Medical Education in Nigeria

Since the return to democracy in Nigeria in 1999, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has undertaken multiple strike actions to advocate for increased university funding, academic autonomy, and improved staff welfare. These strikes have severely disrupted academic calendars, particularly affecting medical education, which relies on uninterrupted clinical training. This study presents a quantitative analysis of ASUU strike durations from 1999 to 2025, along with a qualitative assessment of their impact on medical training. Sixteen strikes were identified, with an average duration of 3.46 months and the longest lasting 9 months in 2020. Informal focus group discussions among medical faculty revealed institutional challenges, including disrupted postings, social mistrust among staff, and student disengagement. Recommendations include establishing protected medical calendars, compensating academic work during strikes, and fostering stakeholder collaboration to mitigate disruption in medical education. Keywords: