The Federal Government has cautioned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) against embarking on another strike, as President Bola Tinubu directed that all outstanding issues with the union be resolved permanently.
Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, told reporters that previous administrations only had draft agreements with ASUU, which were never signed and therefore not legally binding. He said the government was reviewing the union’s proposals to present a sustainable counteroffer.
“There was no plan to meet ASUU this week. What we had was a high-level government session to review their proposals line by line,” Alausa stated, adding that a seven-member technical team had been set up to finalise the review before forwarding it to the Yayale Ahmed-led renegotiation committee.
He stressed that the Tinubu administration would only endorse agreements that are realistic, implementable and within budgetary limits. ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, confirmed that the union had not received any invitation for a meeting but maintained that issues surrounding unpaid salaries and funding remain unresolved.
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to keeping universities open and assured Nigerians that a lasting solution to the dispute was being worked out.
