The Federal Government has firmly declared that it has resolved every demand put forward by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), leaving no grounds for the union's threatened nationwide strike.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa made the emphatic statement during a press briefing in Abuja, appealing directly to lecturers to shelve any industrial action and prioritize students' education.
"We have addressed every single request by ASUU; there is no need for this strike, and we are pleading with them to go back to school," Alausa said.
"We need to keep our children in school. If there is any group of people that I have met with the most since I assumed this position, it is ASUU."
The minister dismissed allegations of government foot-dragging or reluctance as "completely incorrect," emohasising President Bola Tinubu's personal commitment to fair engagement with labor unions.
Alausa's remarks come amid escalating tensions between ASUU and the government, with the union issuing a two-week ultimatum last month for the resolution of lingering grievances.
These include the payment of withheld salaries from previous strikes, improved funding for public universities, better infrastructure, and the reversal of policies seen as undermining academic autonomy.
Sources close to the negotiations indicate that recent high-level meetings have led to breakthroughs on these fronts, including the release of billions of naira in outstanding funds and the establishment of a renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FG agreement framework.
The minister highlighted the government's proactive stance, noting multiple rounds of talks since his appointment earlier this year.
"President Tinubu has been clear: we value our educators and are dedicated to a stable academic environment," Alausa added.
He refuted claims of delays, pointing to swift actions on salary arrears and budgetary allocations for university revitalization as evidence of good faith.
ASUU, however, has not yet responded publicly to the minister's overtures, with union leaders citing a history of unfulfilled promises as a reason for skepticism.
The union's national president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, had previously warned that failure to address core issues could disrupt the academic calendar for millions of students across Nigeria's 118 public universities.
Past strikes, including the grueling eight-month walkout in 2022, have already cost the sector dearly, delaying graduations and exacerbating brain drain in academia.
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