A PHILOSOPHICAL APPRASIAL OF KARL MARX’S ALIENATION OF LABOUR VIS-À-VIS ASUU STRUGGLES

Abstract

The conflict between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government of Nigeria has gradually taken on characteristics of a class struggle, particularly as university academics face growing impoverishment and are increasingly pushed into roles that align them more closely with the broader working class. This research examines the industrial conflict within Nigerian universities, focusing particularly on the disputes between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Nigerian Federal Government. While the conflict may not be accurately described as a straightforward struggle between the 'bourgeoisie' and the 'proletariat' in strict Marxist terms, the study has employed elements of Marxian analysis to interpret the situation. Marx’s concept of alienation, which highlights the disconnection of workers from the products of their labor, the labor process, their fellow workers, and their human potential under capitalist systems, provides a critical lens through which to examine the struggles of Nigerian university lecturers. The persistent industrial actions by ASUU reflect a deeper structural alienation experienced by academic workers within a neglected and underfunded educational system. By situating ASUU’s grievances in the broader context of Marxist thought, the researchers argues that these strikes are not solely about wage disputes, but about reclaiming agency, dignity, and the transformative role of education in society. Through analysis, the research underscores the systemic failures of governance and policy that perpetuate alienation and highlights the need for a radical restructuring of Nigeria’s higher public education sector.