Strike: ASUU Meets Wednesday as FG Concludes Fresh Negotiations

The National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will convene on Wednesday to decide the union’s next steps after the Federal Government’s renegotiation panel, led by Yayale Ahmed, concluded its latest round of talks.

In a last-ditch move to prevent another nationwide university shutdown, the government team resumed discussions with ASUU on Monday. The closed-door talks, according to a senior NEC member, began yesterday and are expected to formally wrap up today (Tuesday).

“The renegotiation meeting started on Monday and will end on Tuesday. After that, NEC will meet and determine our next steps by Wednesday. Everyone will know the outcome then,” the official said, requesting anonymity due to restrictions on media engagement.

ASUU’s one-month ultimatum to the Federal Government expired on Saturday, heightening fears of a fresh strike across public universities. The union has repeatedly accused the government of failing to take its demands seriously.

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Among ASUU’s key demands are the renegotiation of the 2009 FG–ASUU agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned allowances, and the release of revitalisation funds for public universities.

However, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, currently on an official trip outside the country, maintains that the Tinubu administration has largely met the union’s demands. He recently reiterated the President’s directive that no strike should disrupt academic activities.

“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,” Alausa said two weeks ago. “We’ve met nearly all their requirements and have returned to the negotiation table. We will resolve this.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress has thrown its weight behind ASUU, warning that it will stand with the union should the government fail to honour its commitments.