The Federal Government of Nigeria has publicly appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its planned strike, insisting that it is committed to meeting the union’s outstanding demands. At a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, emphasized that the government is already examining ASUU’s proposals and that substantive progress is being made in negotiations.
He reiterated that President Bola Tinubu has directed that all efforts be expended to avert another disruption in tertiary institutions, as such interruptions have serious consequences for students’ academic progression.
Minister Alausa explained that the government had reconstituted and inaugurated what is now called the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee. This new body is intended to fast-track talks simultaneously with academic and non-academic unions across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
This move, he said, reflects a shift from the previously fragmented negotiation structure (where separate committees handled different sub-sectors) to a unified framework designed to harmonize demands and responses across the entire tertiary sector.
ASUU, for its part, has already commenced full mobilisation across its national branches in anticipation of the expiry of its 14-day ultimatum, which is due to lapse on Sunday. The ultimatum was issued following a National Executive Council meeting held on Sunday at the University of Abuja.
In a notice signed by the union’s national president, Chris Piwuna, ASUU lamented what it described as long-standing neglect of the university system and the government’s repeated failure to honor past agreements. It warned that if government fails to act by the ultimatum’s deadline, the union might embark on a two-week warning strike and, if that fails, escalate to a total and indefinite shutdown.
To understand the depth of the current standoff, one must appreciate the longstanding history of grievances between ASUU and successive federal governments. Central among those is the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, which promised funding, infrastructure investment, improved working conditions, and autonomy for universities.
Over the years, many of its provisions have languished unfulfilled. ASUU members repeatedly argue that successive administrations have reneged on signed agreements, renegotiated terms without implementation, or ignored commitments altogether. This cycle of promise, delay, and backsliding has bred deep mistrust and repeated industrial actions over more than a decade.
Against that backdrop, the Tinubu administration’s latest move is significant. The decision to consolidate the negotiation process under a single expanded committee is a break from past approaches. Minister Alausa stated, “In the past, we had three different committees working – one for universities, one for polytechnics, and one for colleges of education.
But that was not an efficient way to negotiate. Now, we have one expanded negotiating committee that engages all tertiary institutions and all unions, both academic and non-academic, to ensure a holistic understanding of their needs.” He also committed that the government’s counter-offer would soon be submitted to the committee, noting that “we are finalising the components of the condition of service that ASUU has proposed.”
In earlier remarks, Alausa had urged that “these issues have dragged on for over 10 to 15 years, but this administration is determined to resolve them once and for all.”
The government has also pointed to steps it claims demonstrate its readiness to act. Among them is the release of ₦50 billion to pay earned academic allowances owed to academic and non-academic staff in federal universities. Moreover, ₦150 billion has been included in the 2025 budget for revitalisation of tertiary institutions.
Alausa asserted that promotion arrears, wage award issues, and other allowances have already been addressed, and that the final outstanding area — the condition of service — would soon be concluded. “By next year, all arrears will be fully cleared, including the 2025 wage award,” he pledged.
Alongside these moves, senior officials such as the Solicitor General and the Minister of Justice have reportedly been included in the negotiation process to ensure that any agreement reached is legally binding and enforceable.
Despite these initiatives, ASUU insists that promises alone are insufficient without implementation and timelines. Union President Chris Piwuna, who assumed office earlier in 2025, has stressed that the union expects the government to act decisively. In its public communication, ASUU stated that prior rallies and pleas (notably in August 2025) yielded no meaningful outcomes, and that “both the federal and state governments have a strong habit of paying little or no attention to the education sector in general and the welfare of university academics in particular.”
Thus, the union’s ultimatum is intended to force the government’s hand: either produce tangible deliverables or face industrial action. As Piwuna’s letter to branches reads, “Members are to take instructions only from their Chairpersons … attend Congress meetings regularly for updates on further developments.”
As the deadline approaches, tensions mount on both sides. The government now claims it has entered the final phase of negotiations with ASUU and other tertiary unions and is pushing hard to secure an accord before the ultimatum expires.
Meanwhile, the union continues its mobilisation across campuses nationwide. Should the government fail to deliver on its promises in an acceptable timeframe, ASUU’s warning strike may be just the opening salvo in what could become a protracted confrontation. The stakes are high – academic calendars hang in the balance and the credibility of both the government and the union are on the line.