The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned the Federal Government against removing courses described as irrelevant from Nigerian universities. Naija News reports that the union, through its Bauchi Zone, gave the warning during a press briefing held in Bauchi on Thursday.
ASUU said the planned removal of some courses could create more problems in the education sector and affect peace in universities across the country. The Federal Government had earlier announced plans to discontinue some courses in public universities that it believes no longer align with the country’s economic needs.
The announcement was made on April 26, 2026, during the Renewed Hope Conversation held with students of the University of Abuja. Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the government wanted university education to focus more on courses connected to jobs, innovation, and present global realities.
He also stated that courses with little practical value would gradually be removed from the system. Reacting to the statement, ASUU Bauchi Zone Coordinator, Comrade Namo Timothy, said the government’s position was wrong and unfair to many academic fields.
According to him, every course offered in universities has value to society and also helps students build useful knowledge and skills.
He explained that courses in the humanities and social sciences help students develop critical thinking, creativity, communication and other abilities needed in modern society.
He added that subjects such as philosophy, religious studies, linguistics, and fine arts should not be treated as useless. Timothy also rejected claims that graduates from social sciences and humanities are the main reason for unemployment and youth problems in Nigeria.
He said unemployment is a wider economic issue that cannot be blamed on one group of graduates alone.
The union maintained that it would oppose any move to remove academic programmes from Nigerian universities. ASUU said it was ready to work with other groups to stop the planned action.
