The Federal Government has entered the final phase of negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary education unions in a bid to prevent an imminent strike that could once again paralyze Nigerian universities.
The urgency surrounding the talks follows ASUU’s directive to its branches to prepare for a two-week warning strike, expected to begin on October 13. The planned action comes after the expiration of a two-week ultimatum issued to the government over what the union described as unfulfilled commitments.
ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, criticized the government’s inaction, stating that authorities had yet to make any “meaningful response” to the union’s long-standing demands.
At the center of the high-stakes discussions, currently handled by the Technical Working Group on the Conditions of Service for university lecturers, are several critical issues. These include the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, unpaid allowances, and a comprehensive review of the lecturers’ conditions of service.
The working group is reportedly finalizing a counteroffer to present to the unions, marking what government sources described as “the final stage” of negotiations. The unions, however, insist that without concrete implementation timelines, their patience is wearing thin.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, expressed optimism that the issues would soon be resolved, reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s directive that “all necessary steps must be taken to keep Nigerian students in school.”
Alausa noted that the government has made significant financial commitments toward resolving the dispute, including the release of N50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances and the inclusion of another N150 billion in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, to be disbursed in three phases.
He appealed for continued patience from the unions, assuring that the government remains sincere in its efforts and has involved the Solicitor-General of the Federation to ensure any agreements reached are legally binding and enforceable.
As talks continue, stakeholders across the education sector are anxiously watching, hoping that this round of dialogue will finally bring lasting peace to Nigeria’s public universities.
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