The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has commenced a critical two-day negotiation with the Federal Government, with the outcome set to determine whether lecturers will resume or continue their suspended industrial action.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2025 Harmattan School organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress, ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, reaffirmed the union’s unwavering commitment to defending Nigeria’s education sector.
“Our commitment to prioritise education in Nigeria is unshakable. We will continue to defend this sector no matter the pressure,” Piwuna said.
He criticized the Federal Ministry of Education for previously claiming that most of ASUU’s demands had been met, noting a recent shift in the ministry’s language. “It’s almost all the demands, that’s what they’re saying now. But clearly there are still issues, specifically our 2009 agreement, which is why we’re meeting this afternoon,” he added.
Piwuna clarified that no strike was scheduled for Friday, stressing that the union would await the results of the ongoing talks before deciding on any industrial action. “If this meeting today and tomorrow fails, we will report back to our members, and they will instruct us on what to do. Our commitment is unshakable, as it was with our past leaders, as it is today,” he said.
The ASUU leader also raised concerns over what he described as a dual threat to Nigeria’s education system—rising insecurity in schools and policy failures that are undermining higher education.
The negotiations come amid growing public attention on ASUU’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the country’s academic standards, with the education sector’s future hanging in the balance.
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