FG Sets New Talks as Ultimatum Ends
The Federal Government has scheduled fresh negotiation meetings with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for Monday and Tuesday. The move comes as anxiety rises nationwide after ASUU’s one-month ultimatum expired on Saturday.
ASUU issued the ultimatum after suspending its two-week warning strike on October 22. The union demanded quick action on the review of the 2009 ASUU–Federal Government agreement. It also sought the payment of outstanding salaries and earned allowances. Furthermore, it insisted on the release of the long-pending university revitalisation fund.
These issues remain unresolved, creating renewed tension across the tertiary education sector.
Union Accuses FG of Delaying Action
A senior member of ASUU’s National Executive Council, who requested anonymity, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the government’s timing. He suggested that the Monday and Tuesday meetings were meant to slow the union’s response.
“They have convened a meeting for Monday and Tuesday. I believe it’s a delay tactic. They are trying to delay us from taking action. After their meeting, we will hold a NEC meeting to decide the next line of action,” the NEC member said.
According to the union, it had prepared to act once the ultimatum ended. However, it decided to wait for the government’s proposed meetings before announcing its next steps.
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Stability
Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, insists the government has already met ASUU’s demands. He also restated President Bola Tinubu’s directive that the academic calendar must not face fresh disruptions.
“As I told you, the President has said 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. The last strike they went on for about six days was not really needed,” the minister stated.
Despite these assurances, many stakeholders believe concrete action is still required to restore trust between both parties.
Stakeholders Await Outcome of Talks
Across public universities, tension continues to grow. Students, parents, and administrators are closely monitoring the situation. Many hope the scheduled meetings will produce a clear agreement. Others fear a return to prolonged shutdowns that have repeatedly disrupted academic calendars.
The outcome of the Monday and Tuesday negotiations will ultimately determine whether ASUU activates a fresh strike or allows academic activities to continue uninterrupted.