The national leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is set to gather today, Thursday, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for a decisive meeting that could determine the future of the nation’s public universities. Anxiety continues to mount across the country, especially among university students, as ASUU has been vocal about their grievances with the Federal Government, and rumors of a looming strike persist.
This meeting follows several warnings and pre-strike notices given by ASUU due to the government’s failure to fulfill earlier promises. Over the past months, the union has been expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of issues affecting university lecturers, ranging from unpaid allowances to poor funding of public universities. ASUU’s demands have long included improved working conditions, better funding for educational infrastructure, and the full implementation of past agreements.
The union’s most recent action occurred on September 24, when ASUU issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, threatening to shut down all universities if their demands were not met. This followed a previous 21-day notice that had been issued on August 18, during which ASUU urged the government to take meaningful action. According to ASUU, the government has consistently failed to address their concerns, despite numerous discussions and agreements in the past.
During today’s meeting, ASUU is expected to present a “State of the Nation” address, which will outline the union’s next steps. Students and faculty alike remain on edge, unsure of whether the meeting will result in the suspension of activities across universities nationwide. The uncertainty is particularly troubling for students, many of whom are concerned that their academic calendars could be severely disrupted.
