The National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities will meet on Wednesday to decide the union’s next line of action following the conclusion of renegotiations undertaken by the Yayale Ahmed-led committee set up by the Federal Government.
In a last-minute effort to avert a fresh ASUU strike, the government’s renegotiation team reconvened talks with the union on Monday.
The meeting, which began yesterday, is expected to formally conclude today (Tuesday), according to a senior ASUU NEC member who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions placed on media engagement during the negotiation process.
“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 NEC member said.
ASUU’s one-month ultimatum to the Federal Government elapsed on Saturday, heightening anxiety across public universities.
The union has repeatedly threatened a full-scale strike, accusing the government of a “nonchalant” attitude towards its longstanding demands.
The demands include the review of the 2009 ASUU–Federal Government agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned allowances, and the release of funds for university revitalisation.
Despite these grievances, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who is currently out of the country, insists that the government has met the union’s demands.
Speaking to State House correspondents two weeks ago, Alausa reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s directive that no strike should occur in public universities, stressing that negotiations were ongoing.
“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,” he said.
“We’ve met nearly all their requirements and have returned to the negotiation table. We will resolve this.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress has declared its support for ASUU, warning that it will “fight alongside the academic community” if the government fails to address the union’s demands.
