The National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will meet on Wednesday to discuss the union’s next course of action following the conclusion of renegotiations done by the Yayale Ahmed-led committee established by the Federal Government.
In a last-ditch effort to avoid a new ASUU strike, the government’s renegotiation team resumed discussions with the union on Monday.
The meeting, which began yesterday, is anticipated to be officially concluded today (Tuesday), according to a senior ASUU NEC member who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to media limitations imposed 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 expired on Saturday, raising concerns across public colleges.
The union has regularly threatened a full-scale walkout, accusing the administration of being “nonchalant” about its long-standing demands.
The demands include a reconsideration of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement, payment of unpaid salaries and earned allowances, and the release of funding for institution revitalization.
Despite these complaints, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa, who is currently abroad, maintains that the government has met the union’s demands.
Speaking to State House media two weeks ago, Alausa restated President Bola Tinubu’s decision that no strike should take place in public colleges, emphasizing that negotiations were underway.
“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 reaffirmed its support for ASUU, threatening to “fight alongside the academic community” if the government fails to meet the union’s demands.
