The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared its willingness to return to the negotiation table with the Federal Government in a bid to end the ongoing two-week strike that has paralysed academic activities across public universities.
The union said it had received encouraging signals from government representatives showing readiness to restart dialogue and address the lingering issues that have strained relations between both sides for years. This development comes amid growing concern from students, parents, and education stakeholders over the recurring disruptions in Nigeria’s university system.
ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, made this known on Monday during an interview on Channels Television, where he reaffirmed the union’s position that dialogue remains the only effective tool to achieve lasting peace in the tertiary education sector. “We have always believed that no matter the tension, no matter the disagreement, dialogue remains the only path to resolution,” he said.
“We are not running away from the table; we are ready to engage in discussions that will produce sustainable solutions.” His statement followed the union’s recent declaration of a comprehensive strike on Sunday, halting all teaching and academic activities nationwide due to unresolved demands that have lingered for years despite repeated negotiations.
The Federal Government, on its part, responded swiftly, insisting that it had already met most of ASUU’s demands and therefore described the strike as “unjustifiable.” The government further threatened to implement a strict “no work, no pay” policy, warning that lecturers who failed to return to classrooms would have their salaries withheld.
This stance has sparked renewed tensions between both parties, drawing criticism from several labour and civil society groups. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in particular, condemned the government’s approach, describing it as an act that could “undermine the principles of fair negotiation and the rights of workers to collective bargaining.”
The NLC further pledged solidarity with ASUU, insisting that the union’s demands for improved working and learning conditions in public universities were legitimate and long overdue.
Despite the brewing tension, Professor Piwuna disclosed that there were encouraging signs from the government’s side that renewed dialogue could begin soon. He revealed that the Federal Government’s negotiation team had reached out to ASUU leadership to resume talks aimed at resolving the impasse.
“Today, I received a call from Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Chairman of the Federal Government Team, and he’s eager to resume talks with us,” Piwuna stated. “I also received another call from the Minister of State for Labour, stating that she’s been directed to intervene and get this matter resolved. ASUU is willing. We are ready and available to discuss this matter once and for all.”
He further noted that the union expected formal communication from the Implementation and Labour Monitoring Committee (IALM) between Monday night and Tuesday, after which a meeting date would be announced.
Continuing, Piwuna explained that the union remained open and committed to any credible dialogue that could lead to a permanent resolution.
“My understanding, as I’m talking to you now, is that between this night and tomorrow, I will get a communication from the secretary of the IALM Committee for a meeting at a date they will tell us. I would also hear from the Minister of Labour on what they want to do to resolve this matter. We are ready and willing to go back and talk,” he said. He, however, stressed that the strike was not a decision ASUU took lightly.
“Strike has never been an option that we exercise so freely. It is always a last resort when every other effort fails. We are willing to talk about all these issues,” he added.
Reacting to recent comments made by the Minister of Education, who claimed that all pending issues with ASUU had been resolved, Piwuna challenged the government to explain why it was seeking to reopen negotiations if, indeed, there were no outstanding problems.
“Since the minister has said all the problems have been solved, that there is nothing left, I want Nigerians to ask the Ministry of Labour and the Federal Government negotiating team: if the issues have been solved, why are you going back to talk with ASUU? Are lecturers in LASU or Kogi State University still not being victimised? Has the 2009 agreement been concluded?” he queried. He accused the government of inconsistency and urged it to focus on genuine engagement rather than public rhetoric.
Professor Piwuna concluded by stressing that both lecturers and students have been victims of government inaction and poor policy implementation, emphasizing that the union’s goal is to restore stability and quality to Nigeria’s public university system. “Nigerian students and the Academic Staff Union of Universities are victims of government actions and inactions,” he said.
“We see ourselves as victims in the same way that students do, and that’s why we’re pushing for a system that works for everyone.” As of Monday, several universities, including the University of Ibadan, Tai Solarin University of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, have already joined the industrial action, leaving classrooms empty and campuses in a state of uncertainty.