Strike: FG Begins Final Phase of Talks with ASUU

The Federal Government says it has entered the last lap of negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions in tertiary schools. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja at a session of the Technical Working Group on Conditions of Service for ASUU.

FG’s goal: no more classroom shutdowns

Dr. Alausa said the talks are designed to settle the remaining issues and keep students in school. He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that every effort be made to protect the academic calendar and avoid fresh strikes.

Counteroffer timeline

According to the minister, the working group is putting finishing touches to a counteroffer that will go to the unions through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee. He said the document should reach the committee by the end of today or, at the latest, tomorrow, after which it will be presented formally to the unions.

What the demands look like

Dr. Alausa explained that about 80% of union demands are similar across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, while the remaining 20% are sector-specific items. The committee, which was inaugurated earlier in the week, is meeting intensively to shorten timelines for agreement and rollout.

Money already released—and what’s budgeted

The minister listed funding steps already taken. He said the government has paid ₦50 billion in Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) as approved by the President. In addition, ₦150 billion has been provided in the 2025 budget for needs assessment across campuses; this will be released in three tranches, with the first ₦50 billion ready to go.

Salaries, arrears and awards

Beyond EAA, Dr. Alausa said promotion arrears and other outstanding allowances—teaching allowances and wage awards,have been addressed, while the remaining areas will be cleared by 2026. He stressed that lecturers and non-academic staff “deserve to be paid well,” but that the government must phase payments to keep the system stable.

Tone of the talks

The minister appealed for patience from ASUU and sister unions, saying the administration has shown “good faith” and wants a deal built on mutual respect and sustainable financing, not stop-gap promises. “We have resolved many of the issues; the last piece is the conditions of service—and we will resolve that too,” he said.

Legal backing for any agreement

For the first time in these talks, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and officials from the Ministry of Justice are sitting at the table. Their role is to make sure every clause is legally sound and enforceable, so both sides can implement it without confusion later.