Government Appeals to ASUU, Promises New Offer Ahead of Crucial Talks

By Deborah Oladapo

The Federal Government has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its proposed strike, assuring that a new offer addressing the union’s long-standing demands will be presented within days.

Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing journalists ahead of a meeting of the high-level committee on the 2025 FGN/ASUU proposed agreement.

Dr. Alausa said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed that every effort be made to avert another disruption of academic activities in Nigerian universities, describing the resolution of the dispute as “a national priority.”

According to him, the President has shown the political will to address the issues comprehensively, adding that government officials have been working behind the scenes to achieve a lasting solution.

“The directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to us is that our children must be in school; we must do everything humanly possible to avert a strike,” Alausa said. “People at the highest level of government have been working several hours intensely to get a robust but affordable response back to our trade unions.”

He explained that a technical working group had been meeting to finalise the Federal Government’s counteroffer to ASUU, which will be presented to the union by the Yayale Ahmed-led Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiating Committee on Thursday.

The minister added that the committee, inaugurated on Monday, had already begun work and would meet continuously with the various tertiary institution unions until a final agreement is reached.

“The expanded negotiation committee will meet with ASUU to present government’s position. The same body will also negotiate with other academic and non-academic unions across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education,” he said.

ASUU had last week issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands or face industrial action. The ultimatum followed a meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) held at the University of Abuja on September 28.

Among the union’s key demands are the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement, improved funding and revitalisation of public universities, and the end of alleged victimisation of members at Lagos State University (LASU), Kogi State University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

Dr. Alausa said many of ASUU’s requests are similar to those of other tertiary institution unions, hence the decision to adopt a single negotiating framework to ensure a more coordinated response.

“In the past, negotiations were handled in silos. There were different committees for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, which was inefficient. This administration wants a holistic and mutually respectful resolution,” he explained.

The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government had already begun implementing parts of the unions’ demands, including the release of ₦50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and the allocation of ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for the revitalisation of tertiary institutions. He added that the issue of promotion arrears would be addressed in the 2026 budget.

He, however, appealed to ASUU to remain patient and avoid industrial action while talks are ongoing.

“We are aware that these issues have lingered for years, but this government has the commitment and political will to resolve them comprehensively. A strike is not the first solution,” he said.

ASUU has yet to issue an official response to the Federal Government’s latest appeal as of press time.