The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday began a crucial meeting with leaders of key unions in the education sector, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), among others.
The meeting, which is taking place at the NLC headquarters in Abuja, seeks to resolve issues that triggered the ongoing strike action affecting universities and other tertiary institutions across the country.
The NLC had earlier written to the leadership of all unions in the higher education sector, inviting them for consultations aimed at finding a lasting solution to the crisis that has paralysed academic activities nationwide.
Nigeria’s tertiary education system has been plagued by prolonged instability, with the latest disruption coming after ASUU declared an indefinite strike.
ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the industrial action at a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday, citing the government’s failure to address key demands despite a 14-day ultimatum that expired on September 28.
Among ASUU’s grievances are the non-implementation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government agreement, non-payment of three-and-a-half months’ withheld salaries, inadequate funding for universities, unpaid promotion arrears, and withheld cooperative and union deductions.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tunji Alausa, had recently stated that talks with the unions were in their final stage, noting that the Federal Government released ₦50 billion for earned academic allowances and earmarked ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for university needs assessment.
However, ASUU described the measures as inadequate and insisted that the government must fully implement previous agreements to restore stability in the nation’s tertiary education system