The Federal Government has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its proposed strike, assuring the union that it remains committed to resolving all outstanding issues raised.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, stated that the government is actively addressing ASUU’s demands and that significant progress has been achieved in ongoing negotiations between both parties.
He explained that the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee had been reconstituted and inaugurated to accelerate talks with academic and non-academic unions across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Alausa added that President Bola Tinubu had issued firm directives to ensure every effort is made to prevent further disruptions to the nation’s tertiary education system.
ASUU, however, has begun fully mobilising its members ahead of a possible nationwide warning strike as its 14-day ultimatum expires on Sunday.
The union resolved to embark on the warning strike following a National Executive Council meeting held on Sunday at the University of Abuja.
In a notice signed by its National President, Chris Piwuna, ASUU criticised the government’s neglect of the university system and its repeated failure to address the union’s longstanding concerns.
“In August 2025, members of ASUU in both federal and state universities staged rallies on their campuses, carrying placards to press the government to resolve the persistent issues affecting the university system,” the statement read.
“None of these efforts yielded any results. It is now evident that both federal and state governments have a long-standing tendency to give minimal or no attention to the education sector, particularly the welfare of university lecturers.”
The union warned that if the government fails to address its demands before the ultimatum lapses, it would first embark on a two-week warning strike, which could escalate into a total and indefinite strike.