The Federal Government yesterday opened talks with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to avert the disruption of academic activities in public universities nationwide.

The meeting continues today, ahead of tomorrow, the day ASUU directed its chapters to commence strike if the Federal Government failed to meet its demands for improved welfare of its members and better funding of the education sector. 

Education Minister Tunji Alausa is leading the Federal Government team. 

“The minister met with ASUU today. The meeting will continue. We will share the details when we have something concrete,” a top official of the ministry told news reporters.

ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, had at a news conference in Abuja, expressed displeasure with the challenges, including a hostile work environment and debilitating conditions of service faced by university teachers. 

He said that the unaddressed status of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, the struggle in state universities and the erosion of university autonomy were not in the interest of the university education system.

Piwuna urged the government to release the N150 billion revitalisation fund.

The Key Demands:

• Conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021;

• Release of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries on account of the 2022 strike;

• Release of unpaid salaries of staff on sabbatical, part-time and adjunct appointments;

* Payment of 25/35 percent wage award arrears for one year; and

 • Reinstatement of our victimised members in some state and federal universities, including but not limited to Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO;

• Release of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions; and

• Funding for revitalisation of public universities; proliferation of universities by the federal and state governments