JUST IN: NLC, ASUU MOVE TO END STRIKE DEADLOCK IN FRESH MEETING
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The Nigeria Labour Congress has initiated a session with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, among other organizations, to address the ongoing strike in universities and additional issues raised by personnel in tertiary institutions across the country.
The assembly is presently taking place at the NLC national headquarters in Abuja.
It is worth noting that the NLC, in a correspondence, summoned union leaders from various tertiary educational institutions nationwide to convene a meeting aimed at discovering enduring solutions to challenges stemming from unsuccessful negotiations with the Federal Government.
The Nigerian higher education sector has been plagued by persistent instability, the most recent incident resulting in the closure of universities across the nation due to the ongoing strike led by ASUU.
ASUU National President Professor Chris Piwuna declared the strike at a press conference at the University of Abuja on Sunday, following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government on September 28. The union highlighted unresolved matters concerning staff welfare, institutional infrastructure, salary arrears, and the execution of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.
Negotiations in recent weeks have failed to prevent industrial action. Education Minister Tunji Alausa indicated two weeks ago that discussions had entered a final phase, mentioning that the government had allocated N50 billion for earned academic allowances and earmarked N150 billion in the 2025 budget for a needs assessment to be distributed in three phases. However, ASUU deemed these actions as inadequate.
The union is insisting on the complete enforcement of the 2009 agreement, the release of three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries, enduring funding for universities, protection against victimization, payment of outstanding promotion and salary arrears, and the release of withheld deductions for cooperative and union contributions.
The NLC has affirmed its unwavering support for ASUU and other unions within the tertiary education sector, urging vigorous involvement from all union leaders. It further emphasized the principle of a reciprocal stance, “No Pay, No Work,” calling on the government to honor collective agreements and uphold the rights of workers.
The urgent meeting is anticipated to outline subsequent actions for industrial action and to devise strategies that will ensure the welfare of university staff alongside the quality and sustainability of public tertiary education in Nigeria.
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