ASUU Convenes Crucial NEC Meeting Wednesday as Renegotiation with FG Nears Conclusion

The National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will meet on Wednesday to decide the union’s next course of action, following the completion of renegotiation talks led by the Yayale Ahmed committee established by the Federal Government. The outcome of this meeting is expected to determine the immediate future of academic activities across Nigeria’s public universities.

In an effort to prevent another nationwide shutdown of universities, the Federal Government’s renegotiation team resumed talks with ASUU on Monday. A senior ASUU NEC member, who requested anonymity due to restrictions on media engagement, confirmed that the meeting began on Monday and will be formally concluded today (Tuesday). He added that ASUU will announce its decision immediately after Wednesday’s NEC deliberations.

“The renegotiation meeting started on Monday and will end on Tuesday. After that, NEC will meet and determine our next steps by Wednesday. Everyone will know the outcome then,” the official said, underscoring the significance of the decisions ahead. ASUU’s one-month ultimatum to the Federal Government expired on Saturday, heightening fears of a possible industrial action.

For months, ASUU has accused the Federal Government of adopting a “nonchalant” attitude toward the union’s longstanding demands. These include a comprehensive review of the 2009 ASUU–FG agreement, payment of withheld salaries, settlement of earned academic allowances, and release of revitalisation funds needed to upgrade infrastructure, support research, and improve working conditions in universities.

Despite widespread concern, the government maintains that significant progress has been made. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa—currently abroad—insisted two weeks ago that the administration had met “nearly all” of ASUU’s demands. He reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s directive that no strike should occur in public universities, assuring Nigerians that all efforts are being made to stabilise the academic calendar.

“The President has mandated us that he doesn’t want ASUU to go on strike, and we’re doing everything humanly possible to ensure students stay in school,” Alausa said. “We’ve met nearly all their requirements and returned to the negotiation table. We will resolve this.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared its support for ASUU, warning that it will back the union if the Federal Government fails to address the unresolved issues. The NLC argued that ASUU’s grievances reflect deeper structural problems within the nation’s education system, calling for urgent and genuine reforms.

As the country awaits the outcome of Wednesday’s NEC meeting, uncertainty grows across campuses, with millions of students bracing for a decision that could either stabilise the academic calendar or plunge universities into yet another cycle of disruption.