Federal Government Offers 40% Salary Increase As ASUU Resumes Fresh Negotiations
The Federal Government has moved to ease the growing tension in public universities by presenting a fresh proposal to increase the salaries of Academic Staff Union of Universities members by 40 per cent, according to officials familiar with the talks in Abuja.
The offer surfaced just as ASUU prepares for another round of negotiations with the government committee chaired by Yayale Ahmed. The decision to return to the table followed lengthy deliberations at the union’s National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on Sunday, where branch leaders were mandated to brief their members before discussions continue.
A NEC participant, who avoided being named due to restrictions on speaking during bargaining, confirmed that talks would resume next week. The official said the government “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’s one-month ultimatum to the government expired last Saturday, raising fears of a major shutdown in public universities nationwide. In response, federal officials quickly summoned ASUU to a meeting that stretched from Monday into Tuesday, but both sides kept the outcome under wraps because of the confidential nature of the process.
ASUU has warned that a full strike remains on the table if government agencies continue what the union describes as a “nonchalant” approach to long-standing issues. Central to the dispute are the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned allowances, and the release of funds for university revitalisation.
While the tension grows, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa—currently outside the country—has insisted that the administration has addressed the union’s concerns. He recently told State House correspondents that President Bola Tinubu had made it clear he wanted stability in public universities. According to him, “the President has mandated us that he doesn’t want ASUU to go on strike, and we’re doing everything humanly possible to ensure that our students stay in school. The last strike they went on for about six days was not really needed. We’ve met literally all their requirements and are back at the negotiation table. We will resolve this.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress has also entered the picture, backing ASUU and warning that it will step in if the government fails to meet the lecturers’ demands.
