ASUU President Confirms Readiness to Immediately Resume Talks with FG Amid Ongoing Two-Week Warning Strike

Despite having commenced a comprehensive two-week warning strike, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has signaled its commitment to dialogue, with its President, Professor Chris Piwuna, announcing the union’s readiness to immediately resume negotiations with the Federal Government (FG).

Professor Piwuna made the disclosure during a television interview on Monday, just hours after ASUU members across the nation’s public universities began the industrial action to press home their long-standing demands. The strike was declared on Sunday following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum, with the union citing the government’s failure to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement and address other welfare and funding issues.

However, the union leader expressed encouragement from renewed contact with government officials. “Today, I received a call from Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Chairman of the Federal Government Team, and he’s eager to resume talks with us. I also received another call from the Minister of State for Labour, stating that she’s been directed to intervene and get this matter resolved. ASUU is willing. We are ready and available to discuss this matter once and for all,” Piwuna stated.

The ASUU President revealed that the union anticipates official communication from the Implementation and Labour Monitoring (IALM) Committee by Monday night or Tuesday for a negotiation meeting, which they are prepared to honour immediately.

This willingness to return to the negotiation table comes amidst escalating tension, as the Federal Government has vehemently countered ASUU’s action. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has repeatedly claimed that the government has addressed virtually all of ASUU’s demands and insisted the strike is unwarranted. In a strong reaction, the FG has issued a circular directing Vice-Chancellors of all federal universities to immediately enforce the “no work, no pay” policy against all striking academic staff.

While the FG attempts to enforce punitive measures, Professor Piwuna maintained that the strike was a last resort necessitated by the government’s protracted delays in implementing agreements. He stressed that both lecturers and students are victims of government inaction and that ASUU’s ultimate goal remains restoring stability and quality to the public university system through sincere dialogue.