Following the conclusion of nationwide protests on Tuesday, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are set to hold internal congresses to determine their next steps. The development comes as the Federal Government convenes a high-level meeting to address ongoing disputes over the implementation of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, which sparked the recent demonstrations.
Earlier this year, the administration of President Bola Tinubu released N50 billion to settle outstanding academic allowances owed to university lecturers and staff. Despite this, ASUU continues to press for concrete commitments on salary enhancements, working conditions, university funding, institutional autonomy, and revisions to laws governing the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The meeting, expected to include the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi; and representatives from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), aims to outline a timetable for signing and phased implementation of the renegotiated agreement. Discussions will also review how recommendations from the Yayale Ahmed committee draft of December 2024 align with the original 2009 agreement and the Nimi Briggs report.
Officials indicated that the meeting will explore ways to integrate fiscal commitments into the national budget and establish a legally binding instrument to formalize the agreement.
While the government’s engagement is a positive step, there is a risk that unresolved issues or perceived delays in implementation could trigger renewed protests, potentially disrupting academic calendars across the country. The effectiveness of negotiations and clear communication with lecturers will be crucial to preventing further unrest and maintaining stability within the university system.
📩 For more details on this and other stories, visit stonereportersnews.com
🌍 Contact us: info@stonereportersnews.com
📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNews
Add comment
Comments