The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are currently engaged in urgent discussions to avert a potential strike following a 21-day notice issued by the union.
The meeting commenced at 2:17 pm at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Secretariat, Abuja, at the initiative of the federal government. The Government team is led by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, while the ASUU team is headed by the National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke.
Before the meeting entered a closed session, Minister Mamman highlighted that the government team would update ASUU on progress since their last meeting and express the federal government’s commitment to stabilizing the education sector. Mamman acknowledged that a committee was previously established to review ASUU’s demands but had been stalled due to nationwide protests.
Mamman emphasized the government’s dedication to improving the education system and ensuring that students remain in school.
Osodeke, on the other hand, expressed concerns over the unresolved issues that prompted the strike notice issued on August 19, following an ASUU NEC meeting at the University of Ibadan. He criticized the government’s failure to address the union’s concerns despite promises of a swift resolution and highlighted that the issues have been unresolved for 15 months.
ASUU’s demands include a comprehensive overhaul of the university system, improvements in infrastructure, enhanced academic freedom, and a more sustainable funding model. The union aims to elevate Nigerian universities to compete with global counterparts in terms of quality and output.