ASUU anticipates FG's response today as strike negotiations near resolution LAGOS

 The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) expects a definitive response from the Federal Government (FG) today, Monday, following "encouraging progress" in negotiations to end the ongoing two-week warning strike. ASUU has indicated that the outcome will determine whether academic activities resume or if the strike escalates to an indefinite action.

The development comes as millions of students remain at home, with the two-week warning strike, which began on October 13, 2025, reaching its final day.

In its Strike Bulletin No. 2, released on October 19, ASUU detailed advancements in talks with the FG's negotiation team, led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed. Key areas of reported progress include:

• The impending release of withheld cooperative contributions and union dues.
• The payment of outstanding promotion arrears.
• The mainstreaming of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).
• The resolution of a land dispute involving the University of Abuja.
• Addressing the alleged victimization of ASUU members at several tertiary institutions.

However, significant hurdles remain. A core issue is the government's perceived foot-dragging on the full implementation of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement. Other unresolved demands include:

• The payment of all salary arrears, including those withheld during the 2022 strike.
• The provision of sustainable funding mechanisms for universities.
• Concerns regarding the management and disbursement of revitalization funds.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has previously stated that the government has addressed many of the union's concerns. He pointed to the release of N50 billion for EAA payments and the allocation of N150 billion in the 2025 budget for needs assessment. The government has also maintained its controversial "no-work, no-pay" policy for striking lecturers.

Both the Senate and the government have recently intervened to salvage the situation. Following a meeting on October 18, the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions initiated a new negotiation process, and the FG has reconstituted its negotiation committee.

For now, the university community holds its breath, awaiting the government's final feedback by the end of today. The nature of that response will dictate whether campuses reopen or if the current disruption becomes a prolonged, indefinite strike.

#UTVAfrica#