The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared its readiness to return to the negotiation table with the Federal Government in a bid to resolve the ongoing strike that has paralysed activities in public universities across the country.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, disclosed this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television, noting that the union had received positive signals from government officials indicating a willingness to resume dialogue.
Piwuna said he had received calls from Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Chairman of the Federal Government Negotiation Team, and the Minister of State for Labour, both expressing interest in reopening discussions.
“ASUU is willing and ready to engage. We are available to talk and resolve this matter once and for all,” Piwuna stated.
The development follows ASUU’s decision on Sunday to commence a two-week comprehensive strike, citing government’s failure to meet longstanding demands, including the full implementation of the 2009 agreement and an end to the victimisation of its members.
However, the Federal Government has maintained that it has fulfilled its obligations and described the strike as unjustified. The government also threatened to invoke the ‘no work, no pay’ policy to withhold salaries of lecturers who fail to resume work.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) condemned the government’s stance, warning that the action could jeopardise genuine negotiation efforts and violate workers’ rights to collective bargaining. The NLC pledged continued support for ASUU’s struggle to improve conditions in the university system.
Despite the tension, Piwuna expressed optimism that talks could resume soon.
“Between tonight and tomorrow, we expect official communication from the Implementation and Labour Monitoring Committee inviting us for a meeting. We are ready to honour any invitation,” he said.
The ASUU president stressed that industrial action was never the union’s preferred option but a last resort after years of unfulfilled promises.
“Strikes are never easy decisions for us. They are always the last option when all else fails,” he added.
Reacting to claims by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, that all issues with the union had been resolved, Piwuna questioned the government’s sincerity.
“If the minister says all problems have been solved, why is there a need to reconvene negotiations? Are lecturers in LASU or Kogi State University no longer being victimised? Has the 2009 agreement been concluded?” he queried.
Piwuna emphasised that both lecturers and students were victims of government neglect, insisting that ASUU’s ultimate goal remains the restoration of stability and quality in Nigeria’s public universities.
“Nigerian students and lecturers are both victims of government inaction,” he said.
Already, several universities — including the University of Ibadan, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and Tai Solarin University of Education — have joined the strike, leading to the suspension of academic activities nationwide.
