ASUU has given the Federal Government a fresh 21-day strike notice, demanding urgent action on unresolved issues affecting the education sector.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), representing university lecturers in Nigeria, has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to avoid embarking on nation-wide strike action.

The notice was included in the decisions made during the national executive council meeting of the union, which took place over the weekend at University of Ibadan.

Despite the union not having publicized its stance, a senior member disclosed to our correspondent in Abuja that the lecturers have decided to provide a 21-day notice before commencing their proposed industrial action against the Federal Government.

In July of this year, ASUU issued a warning that they would commence an indefinite strike due to the lack of implementation regarding the renegotiated 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.

During a press conference that took place in July at Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, Melemi Abatcha – Chairperson for ASUU Gashua branch – identified two major issues hurting Nigeria’s educational sector: insufficient funding to rejuvenate public universities and the need to amend the 2009 agreement.

The revitalization of Nigerian public universities, which includes enhancing infrastructure, conducive teaching and learning environments, providing students and staff accommodation as well as equipping laboratories and libraries requires funding. As a result of inadequate finances for this purpose, Academic Staff at Nigerian Universities have been stuck with the same salary structure they received in 2009.

In a statement, he revealed that despites the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) directive to remove ASUU from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform since December 2023 until now, members of ASUU are still receiving payment through this problematic system.

Some of the highlighted issues are university autonomy, the increasing number of public universities, a backlog in academic allowances totaling N50bn and salary arrears spanning three-and-a-half months for members nationwide.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had asked for a meeting on June 26 to address the issues that have been hindering universities prior to the recent threat from ASUU. But according to members of ASUU, their demands have yet to be adequately addressed and resolved.