Delegates of the federal government, led by Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman, will meet today with officials from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other key stakeholders. The meeting aims to address ongoing issues between the government and ASUU, which recently threatened to go on strike after issuing a 21-day ultimatum.
ASUU’s ultimatum was issued following its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the University of Ibadan. The union has raised concerns about various unresolved issues, including the revitalization fund for public universities, payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, and the release of withheld salaries. Other issues include promotion arrears, IPPIS-related concerns, and third-party deductions for members.
The last major strike by ASUU during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration lasted over eight months, severely disrupting academic activities across the country’s universities.
Prof. Mamman informed journalists during a press conference marking the administration’s one-year anniversary in Abuja that letters of invitation had been sent to ASUU and other relevant organizations for today’s meeting. He assured that many of ASUU’s concerns are being addressed, including the issue of exiting the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), which he said had already been resolved by President Bola Tinubu.
“The delay in implementing this directive is due to bureaucratic processes,” Mamman explained. “However, during our meeting on Monday, we will discuss and resolve many of these issues.”
The Minister emphasized the president’s commitment to maintaining academic stability in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, stating that Tinubu is dedicated to ending the era of academic disruptions. He urged ASUU to approach the negotiation table with an open mind and a consideration for all parties’ interests.
Mamman also noted that many of ASUU’s demands date back to 1981, and that successive governments have faced similar challenges with the union. However, he expressed confidence that the current administration is taking decisive steps towards finding a permanent solution.
