FG, ASUU Begin Fresh Talks on 40% Salary Increase

The Federal Government on Monday in Abuja opened fresh talks with the Academic Staff Union of Universities after proposing a 40 per cent salary increase for lecturers. The offer was made known by officials involved in the discussion as ASUU prepares to continue negotiations with the government team led by Yayale Ahmed.

The meeting followed ASUU’s National Executive Council session held on Sunday in Abuja, where branch leaders agreed to brief members across the country on the new development. A member of the NEC, who was part of the meeting but was not allowed to speak to the media, said the talks are still ongoing and that the union will return to the negotiation table next week.

ASUU’s one-month deadline to the Federal Government ended last Saturday, causing tension across public universities as the union had warned of a possible full strike if its demands were not addressed. To prevent a shutdown of campuses, the government invited ASUU leadership to Abuja for another round of talks, which lasted from Monday to Tuesday.

Both sides have kept the details of the discussions away from the public because of restrictions guiding the negotiation process. ASUU had earlier accused the government of not taking its concerns seriously, especially unresolved matters in the 2009 agreement, unpaid salaries, earned allowances, and the release of funds for university revitalisation.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, who is outside the country, said recently that the government had addressed most of the union’s demands. He also said President Bola Tinubu had ordered that no public university should shut down again, pushing both sides to keep talking to avoid another strike.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has also backed ASUU and warned that it will stand with the union if the government fails to meet its commitments.

Deborah Tolu-Kolawole contributes reports on education, unions, politics and global affairs.