The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government are locked in a critical meeting aimed at preventing a looming strike that could disrupt academic activities across the country’s public universities.
The closed-door meeting, which began on Wednesday in Abuja, is addressing long-standing issues affecting the university system, including salary arrears, funding for revitalization, and better working conditions for lecturers.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, is leading the union’s delegation, seeking solutions to unresolved issues that have plagued the education sector for years. According to Osodeke, despite promises made by the government, many problems remain unaddressed, leading to dissatisfaction among university staff. The union had previously issued an ultimatum, urging the government to meet its demands within two weeks to avert a strike.
The Federal Government’s team, headed by Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman, expressed optimism that a lasting resolution could be reached. Mamman noted that the government has shown a commitment to addressing ASUU’s demands, many of which date back decades, and emphasized the importance of the ongoing dialogue.
However, ASUU’s warning remains clear: if the government fails to act, a nationwide strike is likely to follow. This would disrupt academic activities across Nigeria’s public universities, which have already suffered significant setbacks from past strikes.
