Uncertainty In Universities: ASUU To Decide Fate Of Suspended Strike After High-Stake Talks

According to Ireporter Online, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has entered what it describes as a decisive round of negotiations with the Federal Government, a development that will determine whether the union proceeds with a previously suspended industrial action. ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, disclosed this during an interaction with journalists at the 2025 Harmattan School organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

Piwuna reaffirmed the union’s firm commitment to defending Nigeria’s education system, insisting that ASUU will not relent in pushing for reforms that ensure quality and sustainability in the sector. He criticised the Federal Ministry of Education for repeatedly claiming that most of ASUU’s demands had been met, noting that government officials have recently adjusted their language on the matter.

He explained that the union’s long-standing 2009 agreement with the government remains unresolved, adding that this is a key focus of the ongoing discussions. Piwuna also clarified that ASUU did not announce any plan to commence a strike on Friday, stressing that comments made by its members were merely references to the expiration of an earlier ultimatum issued to the government.

The ASUU president stated that the outcome of the talks scheduled for Monday and Tuesday would determine the union’s next course of action. He said the leadership intends to brief its members before the weekend, after which the union will take directives on further steps.

Piwuna further raised concerns over what he called a “dual assault” on Nigeria’s education sector, pointing to the rise of insecurity affecting schools and the policy failures he believes continue to undermine the future of university education in the country.