The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has
faulted the Federal Government for its slow response to lingering demands,
warning that it will proceed with a warning strike when its 14-day ultimatum
expires on Sunday unless urgent action is taken.
ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, speaking on Channels
Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, said the government’s
last-minute appeal came “too late,” blaming the Ministry of Education for its
poor communication and lack of urgency.
“We went for a meeting in Sokoto and they gave us
three weeks. We accepted it, but we never heard a word from them until the time
elapsed. Not even the courtesy to say, ‘We are working on it,’ until we
threatened action,” Piwuna lamented.
He added that the government’s failure to conclude the
2009 Agreement, which has been under renegotiation for over eight years,
remains a major source of frustration.
“Yesterday, they appealed to us not to embark on
action. Our 2009 agreement remains undone. Two working days before a strike,
you come to appeal to us? The appeal has come too late,” he stated.
The ASUU president noted that the union’s National
Executive Council (NEC) will meet after the ultimatum to decide the next
line of action based on any government response.
“Their ultimatum expires on Sunday, and after that,
there will be a warning strike unless something substantial comes from the
government in the next 48 hours,” he warned.
Background
ASUU had, on September 29, issued a 14-day
ultimatum to the Federal Government, decrying the neglect of Nigeria’s
university system and poor welfare of academic staff. The union also recalled
that it held nationwide rallies in August 2025 to draw attention to the issues,
but “nothing came out of all these rallies and pleas.”
“Both the federal and state governments have a strong
habit of paying little or no attention to the education sector in general and
the welfare of university academics in particular,” the union said in its
communiqué.
FG’s Response
On Wednesday, the Federal Government appealed
to ASUU to suspend its planned strike, assuring that it remains committed to
addressing all pending issues.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa,
speaking at a press conference in Abuja, revealed that the Mahmud Yayale
Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee
has been reconstituted to fast-track talks with academic and non-academic
unions.
He added that President Bola Tinubu had given a
clear directive to avoid any disruption in tertiary education, emphasizing that
progress is being made in ongoing negotiations.
“The Federal Government is already looking into the
demands of ASUU. Progress is being made, and all efforts are being intensified
to prevent another strike,” the minister assured.
Outlook
With the ultimatum set to expire on Sunday, tension
remains high across campuses nationwide as students and parents brace for
possible academic disruptions.
ASUU insists that only concrete commitments from the government — not promises
— can avert industrial action.
Comments:
Leave a Reply