The Federal Government has asked the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its planned nationwide strike, promising that steps are being taken to resolve the union’s long-standing demands. Education Minister Tunji Alausa made the appeal at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, stressing that the government is in “active discussions” with university unions to avoid another shutdown of tertiary institutions.
Alausa explained that the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Committee on Tertiary Institutions had been reconstituted to fast-track negotiations with both academic and non-academic unions. The committee, he said, will handle talks across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education under one framework to prevent delays that have hindered progress in the past.
He added that President Bola Tinubu has directed the education ministry to ensure stability in the university system. “The President has been very clear: no more disruptions in the academic calendar. We must resolve these issues through dialogue,” Alausa said.
According to him, the government has already begun addressing several of ASUU’s key concerns, including unpaid allowances, revitalisation funding, and updated conditions of service.
ASUU, however, has continued mobilising its members as its 14-day ultimatum to the government draws to a close on Sunday. The union announced earlier this week that it could begin a two-week warning strike if no concrete progress is made, followed by a possible indefinite action.
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In a statement signed by its national president, Chris Piwuna, the union accused both federal and state authorities of neglecting the education sector and ignoring repeated appeals to fix the system.
“After rallies and engagements in August, there has been no meaningful response from government,” ASUU said. “It has become clear that authorities pay little or no attention to the welfare of university academics and the decay within our institutions.”
The lecturers’ grievances include unpaid earned allowances, delayed wage adjustments, and poor funding for research and infrastructure. Many of these issues trace back to previous agreements between ASUU and successive administrations that were only partially implemented.
Frequent industrial actions by the union have disrupted university calendars across the country, leaving students idle for months. The last major strike, which lasted eight months in 2022, forced the academic year to roll over in most institutions.
With the current ultimatum set to expire in a few days, the next phase of talks between the government and ASUU will likely determine whether universities remain open or face another prolonged shutdown.