The Federal Government has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its planned nationwide strike scheduled to begin next week, assuring that the administration is actively addressing all outstanding demands raised by the union.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing reporters on the progress of ongoing negotiations between the government and university-based unions.
ASUU had issued a 14-day ultimatum on September 28, threatening to embark on an industrial action over unresolved issues, including unpaid allowances and delayed implementation of agreements. The ultimatum is set to expire on October 12.
Alausa outlined measures taken by the government to demonstrate its commitment, including the release of N50 billion for earned academic allowances and the allocation of N150 billion in the 2025 budget for the revitalisation of tertiary institutions.
“The President has kept his promises. We have addressed promotional arrears, and the issues of wage awards and allowances have been resolved. By next year, all arrears will be fully cleared, including the 2025 wage award. The government is sincere and committed,” the minister said.
He disclosed that the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed-led Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee had been reconstituted and inaugurated to accelerate dialogue with both academic and non-academic unions in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
“We are finalising the components of the condition of service that ASUU has proposed. Our counterpart committee is also working to conclude its response, and hopefully, by the end of today or tomorrow, the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Committee will present the Federal Government’s counteroffer to ASUU,” Alausa explained.
The minister added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed all relevant officials to ensure that the education sector does not experience another round of disruption.
“The President has mandated us to do everything humanly possible to avoid a strike. These issues have dragged on for over 10 to 15 years, but this administration is determined to resolve them once and for all,” he stated.
Alausa also announced that the government had adopted a unified negotiation structure to enhance efficiency and coordination, merging previous committees that separately handled universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
“Now, we have one expanded negotiating committee engaging all tertiary institutions and unions — both academic and non-academic — to ensure a holistic understanding of their needs,” he said.
He revealed that about 80 per cent of the unions’ demands were similar across all subsectors, while the remaining 20 per cent related to specific institutional needs.
Urging ASUU to embrace dialogue instead of industrial action, Alausa appealed for patience and trust.
“We know you have been patient, but please don’t use a strike as your first resort. President Tinubu has shown genuine political will and benevolence toward education. We will resolve this matter comprehensively and sustainably,” the minister assured.
He concluded by reaffirming that discussions on the new conditions of service were nearing completion, noting that the government’s goal was a “final, lasting resolution” to the recurring disputes in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.