The Federal Government has reportedly proposed a 40 percent salary increase for lecturers under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), sources familiar with the development told our correspondent in Abuja.
The proposal comes as the ASUU leadership prepares to resume negotiations with the Federal Government team, led by Yayale Ahmed.
The union’s decision followed a consensus reached at the National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Sunday.
Branch leaders who attended the conference are supposed to relay the information to their members across the country.
Speaking at the end of the NEC meeting, a member who wanted anonymity owing to media limitations during negotiations stated that the union would continue talks with the administration.
“They made a proposal of a 40% salary increment. Branch leaders will go back and update members on the situation. As it stands, negotiations continue with the government next week,” the source said.
Last Saturday, ASUU’s one-month ultimatum to the Federal Government expired, raising tensions within the academic community of Nigerian public universities.
In a last-ditch effort to avoid a potential strike, the government invited ASUU leadership to a meeting in Abuja on Monday, which continued till Tuesday.
Due to the rigorous restrictions that govern the negotiation process, both parties declined to make their discussions public.
The union had threatened a full-scale walkout, citing the government’s “nonchalant” response to its demands.
Key topics include the revision of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement, the payment of unpaid salaries and earned allowances, and the distribution of the university revitalization fund.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education and now out of the country, asserted that the government had met the union’s demands.
Speaking to State House media two weeks ago, Alausa restated President Bola Tinubu’s direction that there should be no strike in public colleges, emphasizing continuing talks to keep students in class.
“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.
“The last strike they went on for about six days was not really needed. We’ve met literally all their requirements and are back at the negotiation table. We will resolve this,” the minister said.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed support for ASUU and vowed to advocate for the academic community if the government fails to meet its demands.
