The Nigerian Federal Government has intensified efforts to prevent another closure of public universities, presenting a new proposal of a 40 per cent salary increase for lecturers under the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Senior union sources in Abuja confirmed the development, which comes shortly after ASUU’s one-month ultimatum to the government expired, heightening tensions across campuses and among students, according to Politics Nigeria..
The fresh offer is expected to be the focal point when ASUU leaders reconvene with the Federal Government’s negotiation panel, led by former Head of Service, Yayale Ahmed.
ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) held a meeting in Abuja on Sunday, where branch leaders from various campuses reviewed the government’s latest proposal and agreed to return to their branches to update members.
A participant at the closed-door meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks, confirmed that negotiations would continue next week.
“They made a proposal of a 40% salary increment. Branch leaders will go back and update members on the situation. As it stands, negotiations continue with the government next week,” the union member said.
ASUU has repeatedly criticized the government’s slow response to its longstanding demands, warning that a “nonchalant” attitude could trigger a full-scale industrial action if progress is not made soon.
Background of Tensions
For several months, ASUU has demanded full implementation of the 2009 ASUU–FG agreement, payment of earned academic allowances, settlement of outstanding salary arrears, and release of long-delayed university revitalisation funds.
The impasse escalated last week, prompting the Federal Government to summon ASUU leadership for urgent talks in Abuja. The engagement extended into Tuesday, but both parties refrained from briefing the media due to the confidential nature of the discussions.
Earlier, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa, at a State House briefing, stated that the Federal Government had made significant progress in meeting ASUU’s core demands. He also reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s directive that public universities must not experience another closure.
Alausa emphasized the government’s commitment to stabilizing the academic calendar, noting that the recent short strike by ASUU should have been avoidable.
In a related development, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expressed solidarity with ASUU, warning that the Federal Government must fulfill its commitments to university staff. The NLC stated it would not hesitate to intervene if the government fails to act promptly.
Observers now view the government’s latest proposal as a significant attempt to ease tensions and ensure students remain on campus as negotiations continue.
Previously, Politics Nigeria reported growing concern in the academic sector after ASUU issued its one-month ultimatum, cautioning that unresolved issues could trigger another prolonged university shutdown.
