The National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will meet on Wednesday to decide the union’s next steps after concluding renegotiation talks with the Federal Government’s committee led by Yayale Ahmed. The PUNCH reports that the meeting is aimed at determining whether a fresh strike will be carried out or suspended.
In a final push to prevent another ASUU strike, the government’s renegotiation team resumed discussions with the union on Monday. A senior ASUU NEC member, speaking anonymously due to media restrictions, said the talks began Monday and would end Tuesday, after which NEC will meet to take a final position.
ASUU’s one-month ultimatum to the government expired on Saturday, increasing tension across public universities. The union has repeatedly warned of a nationwide strike, accusing the government of ignoring its long-standing demands.
These demands include revisiting the 2009 ASUU–FG agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned allowances, and releasing funds for university revitalisation projects.
Despite the union’s accusations, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa—who is currently out of the country—insists the government has met most of ASUU’s demands. Two weeks earlier, he told State House correspondents that President Bola Tinubu had directed officials to ensure no strike takes place in public universities and that efforts were ongoing to keep students in school.
His words at the time were: “As I told you, the President has mandated us that he doesn’t want ASUU to go on strike, and we’re doing everything humanly possible to ensure that our students stay in school. We’ve met nearly all their requirements and have returned to the negotiation table. We will resolve this.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress has also pledged support for ASUU, warning that it will stand with the academic union if the government fails to fully address the demands.
