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By Lizzy Chirkpi
Barring any last minute intervention, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is set to commence a two-week warning strike on Monday, following the expiration of its ultimatum to the Federal Government, which elapses tonight, Sunday.
The planned industrial action comes after the two-week notice the union issued to the government to address lingering issues bordering on welfare, funding, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
Despite ongoing negotiations, the Federal Government has yet to make a public statement on the looming strike.
Recall that ASUU had earlier directed its branches nationwide to prepare for a warning strike in response to what it described as the government’s slow handling of critical matters affecting lecturers.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had on Wednesday announced that talks with ASUU and other university-based unions had reached the final stage. He noted that the Tinubu administration had released ₦50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances and earmarked another ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, to be disbursed in three tranches.
“They (lecturers) deserve to be paid well, and our academic and non-academic staff deserve improved welfare. But we can’t give everything at once. What matters is our sincerity and commitment to substantial improvements in their conditions,” Alausa said.
However, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, faulted the Ministry of Education for what he described as a pattern of delays in addressing the union’s core demands.
“Their ultimatum expires on Sunday, and after that, there will be a warning strike unless something substantial comes out from the government. So, in the next 48 hours, we expect to receive something substantial from the government,” Piwuna said.
“Then, we can go back to our members and ask, ‘Do you think this is sufficient for us to hold on?’ And we will do what our members ask us to do.”