By Farida Abdulwahab Oyedele 
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is willing to resume negotiations with the Federal Government to end the ongoing two-week strike, which has disrupted academic activities in public universities across Nigeria.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna disclosed this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television.
Piwuna revealed that government officials have reached out, expressing their willingness to restart talks.
ASUU declared the strike due to unresolved demands, including improved funding for universities, payment of earned academic allowances, and review of working conditions for lecturers.
The Federal Government claimed to have met ASUU’s demands and labelled the strike “unjustifiable.”
However, ASUU disputes this, pointing out that many issues remain unresolved.
Further complicating matters, the federal government has threatened to enforce a “no work, no pay” policy against striking university lecturers, withholding salaries of those who don’t resume work.
However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned this threat, arguing it would undermine fair negotiation and collective bargaining rights.
The NLC has pledged to support the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in its bid for improved university conditions.
“Today, I received calls from Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Chairman of the Federal Government Team, and the Minister of State for Labour, indicating their eagerness to resume talks.” Piwuna said.
The union expects official communication from the Implementation and Labour Monitoring Committee soon.
Piwuna emphasizes that strike action was a last resort to press home demands that have lingered for years.
He said, “Since the minister has said all the problems have been solved, that there is nothing left, I want Nigerians to ask the Ministry of Labour and the Federal Government negotiating team, if the issues have been solved, why are you going back to talk with ASUU? Are lecturers in LASU or Kogi State University still not being victimised? Has the 2009 agreement been concluded?”
“Both Nigerian students and lecturers are victims of government inaction and other issues. We view ourselves as victims, just like students, suffering from the government’s lack of action.” Piwuna said.
He emphasized that the union’s demands aim to safeguard the future of Nigeria’s public universities and ensure quality education for students.