New twist on ASUU strike as FG pushes 40% pay rise to halt union action

The Federal Government has proposed a 40 per cent salary increase for lecturers in public universities as part of renewed efforts to broker peace with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), highly placed government and union sources confirmed on Monday.

Very Nigerian gathered that the offer was tabled ahead of a fresh negotiation session with the committee headed by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Yayale Ahmed.

The development followed ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Sunday in Abuja, where branch chairpersons agreed to resume talks with the government after the expiration of the union’s one-month ultimatum.

A NEC member, who spoke under anonymity due to strict negotiation rules, said the union noted the proposal but stressed that no final position had been taken.

“They made a proposal of a 40% salary increment. Branch leaders will go back and update members. As it stands, negotiations continue next week,”
the source told our correspondent.

The union’s ultimatum, which elapsed on Saturday, heightened fears of another potential shutdown of public universities.

In a bid to forestall industrial action, the Federal Government convened an emergency meeting with ASUU in Abuja on Monday, a session that extended into Tuesday behind closed doors.

ASUU maintains that government’s posture remains indifferent, insisting that the issues on the table are longstanding and far-reaching. These include:

Renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement,

Payment of outstanding salaries and earned academic allowances,

Release of university revitalisation funds,

Improved welfare and working conditions for lecturers.

But Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, insists the administration has addressed “virtually all” the demands.

Speaking at the State House recently, he revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had categorically directed that there must be no further disruption to academic calendars.

“The President has mandated us that he doesn’t want ASUU to go on strike. We have met most of their demands and are back at the negotiation table,”
Alausa said, describing ASUU’s recent six-day strike as unnecessary.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), however, has thrown its weight behind the lecturers, warning that it will not hesitate to intervene if the government fails to honour its commitments.

With another negotiation session scheduled for next week, all eyes will be on whether the proposed 40 per cent salary hike will be sufficient to avert a nationwide shutdown of public universities.

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