NLC gives FG four-week ultimatum to resolve ASUU crisis

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve all outstanding issues with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary institution-based unions.

The NLC warned that failure by the government to conclude negotiations within the stipulated time would force the Congress to take “drastic action” by activating all necessary labour instruments.

Speaking at the Labour House in Abuja on Monday during an interaction with labour correspondents, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the Congress had discovered that some affiliate unions had been holding meetings with government officials without proper mandates, leading to unfulfilled agreements.

“We have decided to give the Federal Government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector,” Ajaero said.

“They have started talks with ASUU, but the problem goes beyond ASUU. If after four weeks the negotiations are not concluded, the organs of the NLC will meet and take nationwide action that will involve all workers and all unions in the country,” he warned.

Ajaero added that the era of “signing agreements and threatening unions” was over, stressing that the NLC would no longer tolerate government officials who fail to honour commitments made at the negotiation table.

Monday’s session followed a closed-door meeting between the NLC and leaders of tertiary institution-based unions, including ASUU, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT, at the Labour House in Abuja.

Ajaero said the Congress was determined to ensure that all unresolved issues in the education sector were addressed once and for all.

“The policy of ‘no work, no pay’ will henceforth be ‘no pay, no work’. You can’t benefit from an action you instigated,” he said.

“We have found that about 90 per cent of strikes in this country are caused by the government’s failure to respect agreements.”

The ultimatum comes amid a two-week “total and comprehensive” strike declared by ASUU last week, following the expiration of its 14-day notice to the government on September 28.

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, had said the strike became necessary due to the government’s failure to address issues bordering on staff welfare, infrastructure, salary arrears, and the full implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.

In response, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, faulted ASUU’s action, insisting that discussions had reached an advanced stage.

He disclosed that the government had released ₦50 billion for earned academic allowances and earmarked ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for needs assessment projects to be disbursed in three instalments.

Despite this, the NLC maintains that government must conclude all pending negotiations within the four-week window to avert a nationwide shutdown.

Reiterating the Congress’s stance, Ajaero said the NLC would mobilise all its affiliates if the government failed to act within the timeline.

“The era of unending negotiations and unimplemented agreements is over,” he declared.

“We are ready to take every necessary step to ensure justice for all education workers in this country.”