The Federal Government of Nigeria has asserted that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has no justification for its recent strike, claiming that virtually all of the union’s demands have been met.
In a joint statement by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, the government expressed disappointment with ASUU’s decision to embark on a two-week warning strike. They stated that the government has made a comprehensive offer to the union, addressing key concerns such as:
- Welfare and working conditions: The government claims to have addressed matters related to the review of conditions of service and approved a new teaching allowance.
- Funding and infrastructure: The government pointed to the release of N50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances and an allocation of N150 billion in the 2025 budget for university revitalization projects as evidence of its commitment.
- Institutional governance: The government maintains that certain issues, particularly those related to appointments and promotions, fall under the jurisdiction of individual university governing councils, which have recently been reconstituted.
The government also accused ASUU of being uncooperative, claiming the union failed to formally respond to the government’s proposals before announcing the strike.
In response, ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, has insisted that the strike is necessary due to the government’s alleged “insensitivity” and failure to honor long-standing agreements, particularly the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement. The union has also listed other demands, including:
- The release of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries.
- The payment of outstanding salary and promotion arrears.
- The release of withheld third-party deductions.
The Federal Government has since warned that it will invoke the “no work, no pay” policy if the strike continues, emphasizing its commitment to dialogue while also upholding existing labor laws.
