ASUU Strike: NLC to meet as ultimatum expires today

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to meet today to decide their next steps as their ultimatum to the Federal Government regarding a potential strike in public tertiary institutions expires.

Benson Upah, the acting Secretary-General of the NLC, shared this information in an interview in Abuja. After meeting with unions from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, the NLC resolved to give the Federal Government a one-month deadline to address the ongoing issues in the educational sector.

“We have decided to give the Federal Government four weeks to complete all negotiations. While talks with ASUU are underway, the challenges extend beyond them, necessitating this longer time frame,” Upah stated.

NLC President Joe Ajaero emphasized that the time for merely signing agreements and negotiating without real progress is over. With today being the last day of the provided deadline, Upah affirmed their commitment to maintaining peace in higher education. He said, “Our Congress will convene and decide on the next line of action, and we will keep you informed.”

In a related development, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to take immediate measures to prevent a looming strike in public universities. Adejuwon Olatunji-Emmanuel, NANS’ Assistant Secretary-General, urged the government to act quickly to avoid a total shutdown of academic activities.

Olatunji-Emmanuel highlighted that since President Bola Tinubu took office, students have enjoyed a stable academic calendar, a positive trend that must be maintained. “It is crucial for national development and the future of millions of students that academic activities continue without disruption,” he said.

ASUU had suspended a two-week warning strike on October 22, giving the Federal Government a month to meet their demands. However, that month ended yesterday. Their key demands include reviewing the 2009 ASUU–Federal Government agreement, settling unpaid salaries and allowances, and releasing funds for university revitalization.

The union has warned that if significant actions aren’t taken, they will resume industrial action without prior notice. However, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa claimed that the government has addressed ASUU’s demands, expressing optimism that ongoing negotiations will prevent any strike in public universities, and assuring that the government is committed to keeping students in class.