Strike Looms as ASUU NEC Meets Wednesday to Review FG’s Final Terms

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will meet on Wednesday to decide its next line of action following the conclusion of renegotiations with the Federal Government.

According to The PUNCH, the government’s renegotiation team, led by Yayale Ahmed, reconvened talks with the union on Monday in a last-minute effort to avert a fresh strike. The meeting was expected to formally conclude on Tuesday.

A senior ASUU NEC member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the timeline.

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“The renegotiation meeting started on Monday and will end on Tuesday. After that, NEC will meet and determine our next steps by Wednesday. Everyone will know the outcome then,” the member said.

The meeting comes as ASUU’s one-month ultimatum to the Federal Government elapsed on Saturday, heightening anxiety across public universities. The union has repeatedly threatened a full-scale strike, accusing the government of a “nonchalant” attitude towards its demands.

Key grievances include the review of the 2009 ASUU–Federal Government agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned allowances, and the release of funds for university revitalisation.

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Despite these tensions, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, insisted two weeks ago that the government had met nearly all the union’s requirements.

“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.

“We’ve met nearly all their requirements and have returned to the negotiation table. We will resolve this,” Alausa told State House correspondents.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared its support for ASUU, warning that it will “fight alongside the academic community” if the government fails to address the union’s demands.