The Federal Government has tabled a 40 per cent salary increase for lecturers under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in a renewed bid to resolve lingering disputes and avert another round of strikes, sources close to the negotiations have confirmed.
The proposal, described as a major concession by government officials, is part of a comprehensive package aimed at addressing long-standing grievances over poor remuneration, delayed payments, university funding, and deteriorating working conditions in public universities.
Both parties are scheduled to return to the negotiating table in the coming days, with ASUU national leaders expected to thoroughly scrutinize the offer alongside other demands, including the payment of withheld salaries from previous strikes, revitalization funds for universities, and the implementation of the 2009 2009 agreement.
A top government source told journalists on condition of anonymity that the 40 per cent increment was carefully crafted to significantly boost take-home pay and restore morale among academic staff, who have endured years of stagnant wages amid rising inflation and cost of living.
ASUU has yet to issue an official reaction, but branches across the country have been directed to convene emergency meetings to deliberate on the proposal.
The union has staged multiple nationwide strikes in the last decade, including an eight-month action in 2022, largely over the same issues of unpaid salaries and unfulfilled promises by successive administrations.
Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman is expected to lead the government team, while ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke will head the union’s delegation.
Observers say the success of the upcoming talks will depend heavily on whether the government can convince the union of its sincerity and ability to implement agreements without the usual delays that have repeatedly triggered industrial unrest in the sector.
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