The national leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is meeting today (Tuesday) to decide on the fate of its ongoing nationwide strike amid indications that many branches have voted for its continuation.
This follows the union’s disclosure that the Federal Government’s Renegotiation Team, led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, presented a documented response to ASUU’s demands, offering some concessions in key areas.
In a strike bulletin issued on Monday, ASUU confirmed that progress had been recorded in certain aspects such as the release of third-party deductions, payment of promotion arrears, mainstreaming of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), and issues relating to the confiscation of University of Abuja land and the victimization of members in KSU, LASU, and FUTO.
Across universities on Monday, ASUU branches held congresses to decide whether to suspend or continue the industrial action. The nationwide meetings were part of preparations for today’s National Executive Council (NEC) session.
Recall that the union had earlier given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to conclude and implement the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement and address other lingering issues.
However, findings by DAILY POST suggest that the majority of ASUU branches have voted for the strike to continue.
An ASUU official at the University of Abuja, who spoke under anonymity, said, “This Congress is happening nationwide ahead of the NEC meeting. In our branch, almost everyone voted for the strike to continue. It’s now up to the NEC to make our position official.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet ASUU’s demands or face a nationwide shutdown.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who made the declaration in Abuja on Monday after a meeting with leaders of tertiary institution unions, warned that the organized labour would embark on an indefinite strike if the government fails to act.
Ajaero said the ultimatum covers all unresolved issues, including the long-standing 2009 agreement with ASUU.
Reacting to the development, public affairs analyst and communications specialist at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, blamed the recurring crises in the university system on what he called the government’s “chronic neglect of education.”
He described the situation as a reflection of leaders who see education as an expense rather than an investment, adding that such negligence has left Nigerian universities underfunded and lecturers demoralized.
“No serious nation treats its lecturers the way Nigeria does,” Odo said. “When you owe them salaries, deny them research grants, and expect world-class performance, what message are you sending? The strike is not about ASUU being stubborn; it’s about the government’s failure to honour agreements and respect the academia.”
He urged the government to treat education as a national emergency by fulfilling its promises, paying lecturers their entitlements, and revitalizing public universities.
According to him, “Until the government stops playing politics with education, the cycle of strikes and empty promises will continue — and each repetition erodes what is left of our national integrity.”
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