Government Moves To End ASUU Crisis As Final Talks Begin

The Federal Government has entered the final phase of negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary education unions to end lingering disputes and prevent future strikes.

The meeting, held in Abuja on Wednesday, was led by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who explained that the talks aim to conclude all pending issues surrounding the conditions of service for university lecturers and other academic workers. The session was part of the ongoing work of the Technical Working Group on Conditions of Service of ASUU.

According to Alausa, the group is preparing a counter-offer that will soon be presented to the unions through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee. The discussions are in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that Nigerian students must remain in school without disruptions to the academic calendar.

The minister revealed that about 80 percent of the issues raised by the unions are common across universities and polytechnics, while the remaining 20 percent are unique to specific sectors. He added that the committee has been holding continuous meetings to ensure quick agreement on salary structures, allowances, and welfare benefits.

Alausa said the government has already made progress by releasing ₦50 billion for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances and including another ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for needs assessment in tertiary institutions. The first ₦50 billion from this budget will be disbursed soon, while the rest will be released in stages.

He noted that while government resources are limited, efforts are being made to address the financial and welfare demands of lecturers and non-academic staff. Promotion arrears, teaching allowances, and wage awards have been settled, and the remaining payments are expected to be cleared before 2026.

The minister appealed to the unions to remain patient and avoid strike actions as discussions progress, assuring them of the government’s sincerity in resolving all outstanding matters.

He also revealed that, for the first time, the Solicitor General of the Federation and senior officials of the Ministry of Justice are directly participating in the talks. Their involvement is meant to ensure that all agreements reached are legally binding and properly implemented.

The negotiations mark one of the final steps in the government’s plan to achieve lasting peace in Nigeria’s university system and ensure that students complete their studies without further interruptions.