The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that it may resume its nationwide strike if the Federal Government fails to meet their demands before the end of a one-month ultimatum.
The lecturers had suspended their earlier warning strike in October, giving the government a month to address issues related to welfare and improving the teaching and learning environment in Nigerian universities.
Speaking at a press briefing after a Kano zonal meeting, ASUU Kano Coordinator Abdulkadir Muhammad criticized the slow pace of renegotiations. He expressed concern over what he described as government attempts to mislead the public regarding the progress of discussions.
“It is unfortunate that some government functionaries employ different tactics to undermine the renegotiation process and misinform the public on the state of our engagements,” he said.
Muhammad reiterated the union’s commitment to seeing their demands fulfilled, emphasizing that the revival of Nigeria’s public university system depends on a timely and comprehensive agreement.
“Our hope for a holistic and timely resolution of the issues is increasingly being dashed,” he added, highlighting frustration over stalled talks.
The union’s demands focus on ensuring better working conditions for lecturers, funding for public universities, and creating a conducive environment for academic excellence. ASUU officials have warned that failure to resolve these concerns could trigger a full-scale industrial action, affecting students and academic activities across the nation.
Muhammad urged the government to engage sincerely in dialogue, stressing that constructive negotiations would prevent disruption to the academic calendar.
“We remain open to dialogue, but we will not compromise on the welfare and rights of lecturers,” he said.
If the government does not respond satisfactorily by the end of the ultimatum, ASUU has indicated that the resumption of a strike is imminent, potentially impacting millions of students nationwide. The union remains firm in its resolve to safeguard the quality of education in Nigerian universities.
