The Federal Government has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to shelve its planned strike expected to commence next week.
The government said there was no justification for the industrial action, assuring that it remains committed to addressing all outstanding issues raised by the union.
The Minister of Education, Mr. Tunji Alausa, made the appeal in Abuja while briefing journalists on the progress of ongoing negotiations between the Federal Government and university-based unions.
Mr. Alausa outlined several measures taken to demonstrate the government’s commitment, including the release of ₦50 billion for earned academic allowances and the provision of ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for the revitalisation of tertiary institutions.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu had given a clear directive that every effort must be made to prevent another disruption in the academic calendar of the nation’s universities.
The minister further explained that, unlike previous administrations where separate committees handled negotiations for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, the current government has adopted a unified approach to ensure efficiency and coherence in the process.
Written by Gladys Haruna