FG Begs ASUU to Suspend Planned Strike, Assures of Ongoing Talks

The Federal Government has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its planned nationwide strike, assuring that it remains committed to addressing all outstanding demands raised by the union.

The appeal came as ASUU’s 14-day ultimatum to the government draws to a close on Sunday, with the union already mobilising members for a possible warning strike across campuses.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the government is actively engaging with ASUU to resolve all pending issues.

“The Federal Government is already looking into the demands of the union, and progress is being made in the ongoing negotiations,” Alausa stated.

Alausa disclosed that the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee has been reconstituted and inaugurated to fast-track talks with both academic and non-academic unions across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

He explained that the move was part of President Bola Tinubu’s directive to prevent further disruptions in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

“President Tinubu has given clear instructions that every necessary step must be taken to avert another disruption in the academic calendar,” the Minister said.

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The reconstituted committee, he noted, is expected to work closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that outstanding issues such as funding, salaries, and infrastructure are effectively addressed.

Despite government assurances, ASUU has already begun full mobilisation of its members in preparation for industrial action.

The union’s 14-day warning ultimatum, issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja, is set to expire this weekend.

In a notice of strike signed by the ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, the union accused the government of neglecting the education sector and failing to honour previous agreements.

“Apart from our engagement with the press, members of ASUU in both federal and state universities held rallies in August 2025 to draw the government’s attention to the lingering issues in the university system,” Piwuna said.

“Nothing came out of those rallies and pleas. What is clear now is that 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,” he added.

ASUU warned that if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands at the end of the ultimatum, it would have no choice but to embark on a two-week warning strike, which could later escalate into a total and indefinite shutdown of universities nationwide.

Among ASUU’s long-standing demands are:

Implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement;

Payment of withheld salaries during the last strike;

Improved funding for universities; and

Review of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) implementation process.

The union maintained that these issues are crucial to reviving Nigeria’s collapsing university system and improving the welfare of lecturers.

Dr. Alausa urged ASUU to exercise patience while the government completes its review process, noting that dialogue remains the most effective path to resolving disputes.

“We appeal to ASUU to give us time. The Tinubu administration is committed to restoring stability in the education sector and improving the conditions of our universities,” he said.

He added that the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, was working to ensure that all agreements reached with the union would be implemented within realistic timelines.

ASUU’s threat of a fresh strike comes barely a year after universities fully reopened following an eight-month industrial action in 2022, which paralysed academic activities across public institutions.

The new warning from the union has sparked concerns among students and parents, many of whom fear another prolonged shutdown could further disrupt the academic calendar.

The Federal Government has, however, reiterated its commitment to dialogue, urging ASUU to prioritise students’ welfare and national interest as negotiations continue.