The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ASUU STRIKE

  • Senate wades in ASUU strike, to meet Education Minister Tuesday

    Senate wades in ASUU strike, to meet Education Minister Tuesday

    The Senate through its joint Committee on Labour, Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, has waded into the ongoing two-week warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The Joint Committee in their efforts to end the ongoing strike by the University lecturers,  met with the leadership of ASUU on Friday  at the National Assembly and scheduled  meeting with the Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa and the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC ), Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu on Tuesday next week.

    Briefing journalists at the end of a closed door session the joint committee had with the leadership of ASUU, the Chairman,  Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, Senator Muntari Dandutse (Katsina South), said the joint committee heard from ASUU about its grievances that led to the industrial action and pledged to engage the exercise arm of governance on their demands.

    “After meeting with the national leadership of ASUU on way out of the current strike and the looming indefinite one,  we have resolved to convene a very important meeting with relevant government agencies, particularly the Minister of Education and Executive Secretary of the NUC on Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

    READ ALSO: Nigeria to add about 130 million people by 2050, says World Bank

    “We also resolved to interface with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on the need to stop action on the proposed review of the  Certificate of Occupancy University of Abuja’s land,” he said.

    Before the closed door session, the National President of ASUU, Professor Christopher Piwuna,

    told the lawmakers that ASUU was demanding the improved funding of Universities by the Federal Government as contained in extant agreements between it and the federal government, as the way out of the present strike action.

    Sustainable investment in education according to him,  remains the only path to ending strikes and raising the global ranking of Nigerian universities adding that the ongoing two-week warning strike stems from longstanding issues that dates as far  back as 2011.

    “We engaged the Federal Government for eight years without tangible results. The Yayale Ahmed’s committee report, submitted in December 2024, was ignored until this industrial action began”, he said.

    On funding delays, Prof. Piwuna revealed that although the National Assembly approved N150 billion  for universities, only N50 billion has been released so far.

    Even that amount, he noted, remains stuck at the Ministry of Education, where the minister allegedly intends to share it among universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, despite separate allocations for those institutions.

    He cautioned that the N150 billion approved is specifically for universities must be used for the intended purpose.

  • Reps’ leadership to lead intervention in ASUU strike

    Reps’ leadership to lead intervention in ASUU strike

    • Stakeholders preach dialogue
    • More varsities set to join action
    • UI’s union chair faults ‘no work, no pay’ policy
    • NUC to monitor compliance with govt’s policy, says minister

    The leadership of the House of Representatives has moved to end the lingering rift between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The House resolved to seek a lasting solution, following a motion sponsored by Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, the lawmaker representing Badagry Federal Constituency.

    On Sunday, ASUU embarked on a two-week warning strike pending the Federal Government’s resolve to meet the demands listed in its agreement with the union.

    The government, in response to the warning strike, announced a “no work, no pay” policy while admonishing lecturers to return to classrooms.

    But in his motion, Whingan urged the parties to embrace dialogue and prioritise the interests of students who he said were at the receiving end of the faceoff.

    Reacting to the motion, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas said he would lead an ad hoc committee to mediate between the Federal Government and the union.

    Read Also: FULL LIST: African teams with 20 points, above in FIFA World Cup qualifiers

    The lawmakers called for the establishment of a sustainable joint consultative platform, which would be recognised by both parties for future engagements and communication.

    He stressed that the warning strike, among other industrial actions previously taken by academic workers’ unions, has continued to impede the lives of students across government-owned tertiary schools in the country.

    Describing the university system as the bedrock of Nigeria’s development, Whingan said strike actions have derailed several research works and heightened frustration among students, parents and lecturers.

    He said incessant strikes in Nigeria’s institutions have also contributed to brain drain, an increased number of student dropouts, and reduced confidence in the country’s academic system.

    According to him, the government and the union must embrace dialogue anchored on transparency and mutual respect for all parties to bring a lasting solution to the challenge.

    Also, stakeholders, under the aegis of the Future Nigeria Movement (FNM), have criticised the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for its continued use of strikes as the main means to interact with the Federal Government.

    In a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, by its National Leader, Livingstone Wechie, the group described ASUU’s approach as unpatriotic and detrimental to national development.

    FNM urged the union to embrace dialogue instead of resorting to industrial actions to gain attention.

    “The recent declaration of a two-week warning strike will further drown the educational fortunes of what is left of Nigeria,” it said.

    The group expressed concern that the latest strike came at a time ASUU had acknowledged a severe intellectual crisis in public universities, citing the exit of 309 professors across the country as “an intellectual haemorrhage” threatening the sector’s survival.

    FNM urged the Federal Government to treat ASUU’s demands as a national priority but insisted that both parties must explore alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms to prevent further disruption of academic activities.

    Also, there were indications yesterday that the Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun; the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUAA), and the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, all in Ogun State, have joined the ASUU strike, as directed by the union’s leadership.

    ASUU members in TASUED, in compliance with the national directive of ASUU, have stayed away from the lecture rooms pending the expiration of the 14-day warning strike, which commenced on Monday.

    Also, at the University of Ibadan (UI), ASUU Chairman, Dr. Adefemi Afolabi, faulted the Federal Government’s decision to enforce its “no-work, no-pay” policy, describing it as a panicky and knee-jerk response.

    Afolabi spoke with The Nation on the ongoing 14-day warning strike, stating that the government’s approach would not resolve the crisis.

    He urged the government to convene a meeting with the union and sign the draft agreement submitted by the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed committee.

    “This warning strike could have been avoided if the report submitted to the Minister of Education in February 2025 had been signed,” Afolabi stated.

    Also, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has directed vice chancellors to strictly implement the “no-work, no-pay” directive against striking ASUU members.

    He also ordered physical headcounts of lecturers present at work, saying the National Universities Commission (NUC) would monitor compliance and submit a consolidated report to the ministry.

    Alausa expressed disappointment that ASUU embarked on the strike despite government’s appeal for dialogue.

    The minister announced that most of the union’s demands had been addressed.

  • ASUU strike grounds academic activities at University of Ibadan

    ASUU strike grounds academic activities at University of Ibadan

    Academic and administrative activities were completely halted on Monday at the University of Ibadan (UI) as members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UI chapter, fully complied with the union’s national directive to embark on an indefinite strike.

    The Nation reports that there was total compliance across the campus, with offices and lecture halls locked and deserted.

    Human and vehicular movement was minimal, while students remained indoors, many were seen relaxing or playing around their hostels after receiving prior notice of the industrial action.

    Confirming the development, the Chairman of ASUU, UI chapter, Dr. Adefemi Afolabi, said all academic activities at the university had been suspended.

    READ ALSO; CREDICORP wins “Consumer Credit Access Company of the Year”

    Afolabi, who led members of the executive committee on enforcement and monitoring rounds, explained that compliance was seamless since members had been actively involved in the union’s decision-making process.

    He reaffirmed that the strike was in line with ASUU’s national directive and that members of the UI chapter were united in their commitment to the union’s cause.

    He said, “We have just returned to the ASUU Secretariat after monitoring and enforcement of the strike on campus.

    “Our members are complying because it complies with the directives of the national secretariat of the Union.

    “The warning strike commenced Sunday midnight, and it will be on until there are counter directives from the Union.

    “We have moved around the Faculties and Departments to ensure total compliance with the directives.

    “There are no academic and other related activities on the campus. It was easy for our people to comply because they had been part of the process. They were carried along from the inception, and they also agreed with the need for the strike.

    “We hope the FG will use the opportunity to resolve the issues that led to the strike. It was in the hands of the government to prevent the strike in the first place.”

  • ASUU issues 14-day ultimatum to FG over demands

    ASUU issues 14-day ultimatum to FG over demands

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has given the federal government a 14-day ultimatum to address its seven-point demands or face industrial action.

    The union reached the decision at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Sunday at the University of Abuja.

    National President of ASUU, Prof. Chris Piwuna, disclosed this in a strike notice personally signed and released to journalists on Monday in Abuja.

    It explained that the notice, starting from Sunday, September 28, 2025, will first herald a two-week warning strike before embarking on a total and indefinite strike over the Federal Government’s attitude towards resolving pending issues.

    In the notice, ASUU listed seven demands that the government should address to avert the closure of public universities.

    Piwuna listed ASUU’s seven demands as the re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of universities, an end to the alleged victimisation of ASUU members in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University), and FUTO, payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, settlement of promotion arrears spanning over four years, and remittance of outstanding third-party deductions.

    READ ALSO; Jonathan will contest 2027 presidency, says Jerry Gana

    The ASUU president said, “At the NEC meeting held on September 28, 2025, at the University of Abuja, the union decried the neglect of the university system and the government’s consistent refusal to meet its demands.

    “Accordingly, ASUU has given the Federal Government of Nigeria an ultimatum of fourteen (14) days within which to address these issues.

    “If at the end of the ultimatum the government fails to act, the union may have no option but to first embark on a two-week warning strike, and thereafter, a total and indefinite strike.”

    It would be recalled that the Federal Ministry of Education recently set up a committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Abel Enitan, to review ASUU’s proposals in a bid to restore stability in the university system.

    However, the committee has yet to make its recommendations public.

    Also, in an interview with The Nation, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, had said there was no need for the union to embark on strike in the middle of ongoing talks.

    Alausa had appealed to the university lecturers to be patient with the outcome of the committee, which is expected to address the issues raised by ASUU.

  • ASUU Strike: Activities in varsities grounded

    ASUU Strike: Activities in varsities grounded

    University teachers embarked on peaceful protests on campuses yesterday over what they termed the Federal Government’s failure to meet their demands for better welfare and improved funding of the education sector.

    The protests, which grounded academic activities, were called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the umbrella body of lecturers, to serve as a strike notice to the Federal Government.

    They want the government to begin implementing the demands tomorrow to avert the commencement of the strike.

    In most of the universities monitored by The Nation, the lecturers moved around their campuses with placards that highlighted the demands.

     The universities include the  University of Lagos(UNILAG), Lagos State University of Education(LASUED), University of Jos(UNIJOS), University of Ibadan (UI), University of Ilorin(UNILORIN), University of Nigeria, Nsukka(UNN), University of Benin(UNIBEN), Yakubu Gowon University formerly(University of Abuja) and  University of Calabar(UNICAL).

    READ ALSO; What does Remi Tinubu want?

    Others are Bayero University, Kano(BUK),  Federal University of Technology, Akure(FUTA), Nnamdi Azikiwe University(NAU), Federal University, Lokoja; Federal University of Technology, Minna; Emmanuel Alayande University of Education,  Oyo and    Zamfara State University. 

    At UNILAG,  members urged the Federal Government to expedite action on payment of arrears, improved welfare and renegotiation of the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement. 

      Chairman of the ASUU  chapter, Prof. Idowu Kehinde, told reporters after the rally that the union had tried several ways and strategies of resolving the conflict in the education sector, but the Federal Government was not forthcoming.

    Kehinde said: “As always, it is the Federal Government that has consistently pushed our union to embark on strike, and it is clear that ASUU may have no other option than to embark on an action to press the government to listen to our demands and do the needful.

    ‘’For the benefit of the doubt, these issues include  re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement,  sustainable funding of our universities, revitalisation of universities, victimisation of our colleges in LASU, KSU(Kogi State University now Prince Abubakar Audu University) and FUTO(Federal University of Technology, Owerri);  outstanding 25-35 percent salary arrears and promotion arrears  for over  four years.” 

    Also at  LASUED, the branch ASUU  Chairman,  Akolade Lapite, said it was very important for the Federal Government to find a way to avert the crisis in the universities.

    “Having spent so many months and years on negotiation and time, some of them have died, some were co-opted, and some of them again died. So, nothing is stopping the government from doing what is needed,” he added.

    In   UNIJOS, where ASUU President Chris Piwuna teaches, the members accused the government of being responsible for the lingering dispute.

    Their chapter’s Chairman, Jurbe   Molwus, who led the protest,   said: “This(protest) is being done with a view to drawing the attention of all critical stakeholders to the persistent failure of the Federal Government to adequately address our demands.

    “  ASUU is worried that it may no longer be able to guarantee industrial harmony that has been enjoyed for over two years of which the government is no doubt proud of.

    “We would like to state for the record that this has been achieved at the detriment of the welfare and well-being of our ever resilient members who have suffered persistent denial of their due entitlements.”

    Chairman of the  UI chapter, Adefemi Afolabi and his Emmanuel Alayande University of Education counterpart, Michael Ojo, led their placard-carrying members in the protests.

    In UI, the lecturers who were joined by the Nigerian Labour Congress,  Oyo State chapter Chairman,   Kayode Martins, moved round the campus sensitising the university community to the possibility of an industrial action.  

    As they marched in an orderly manner,  they sang solidarity songs,   accusing the government of not fulfilling its promises.  They said their poor welfare should attract the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Afolabi said:  “There has been inadequate progress in the negotiation between the Federal Government and ASUU in the past 16 years.  

    ‘This has contributed to low morale and brain drain, while the best brains have decided to stay away from the profession due to the poor remuneration and conditions of service.

      “Nigerians – including opinion leaders, religious and traditional authorities, civil society organisations, parents of our valued students and all stakeholders to advocate for the Federal Government to sign the re-negotiated agreement by August 28, 2025.

    ‘’Only through this action can the government prevent an impending nationwide industrial crisis across university campuses and fulfil the promises made during the election campaign.”

      On his part,   Ojo stated that ASUU  “ can no longer allow the welfare of its  members to be subjected to the delay tactics of the government.’’

    “ASUU, therefore, invites all genuine patriots to prevail on Nigeria’s governments including the university administrations to address all lingering labour issues in the Nigerian University system to avert another looming industrial crisis if the government at all levels fails to address these concerns, ASUU may be forced to take industrial action which could disrupt the academic calendar and have reaching consequences for the university community,’’ he said.

    The protesters in UNIBEN sang solidarity songs as they marched to the office of the Vice Chancellor with placards. 

    Their Chairman, Ray Chikogu, said:   “In this country, we are the only group of people who have been subjected to that kind of treatment, and we are saying we can’t take it anymore.

    ‘’We want to tell Nigerians that we have been on the same salary for 16  years, it has never happened anywhere in the world, it is only in Nigeria that lecturers and academics are treated with so much disdain.’’

     Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Victor Igbineweka and the Registrar, Ademola Bobola, received the protesters.

    In Akure,   ASUU-FUTA Chairman,   Pius Mogaji, accused the   government of treating issues affecting universities with “recklessness.”

    He lamented that despite ‘’the conclusion and submission of the report of the   Yayale Ahmed-led renegotiation committee in  February 2025, the government   allowed the document to ‘gather dust in the corridors of power.”

    Mogaji said:   ‘’These legitimate and long-standing issues remain unaddressed, a trend that threatens our already fragile educational sector and faces the imminent risk of yet another crisis

    “Our patience has been stretched to its breaking point. Trust has been shattered, and only decisive government action can mend it. The NEC has resolved that all options remain on the table. If the government chooses provocation over responsibility, then it must bear the consequences of the storm that will follow.” 

      Oyibo Eze,  chairman of ASUU-UNN,  said Nigerians should hold the government responsible in case of any nationwide indefinite strike by the union.  

    “Government’s inability to implement the agreement reached with the union since 2009 is very unfortunate and an indication that education is not the priority of the government,” he said.

    Speaking shortly after the protest on the NAU campus,  Awka, the ASUU Chairman,   Innocent Nnubia, regretted what he described as ‘’lingering and overdue 2009 renegotiation issues.’’

    He said: “We, the ASUU NAU members, are grieved. You know what’s obtainable in Western countries. When there’s a problem in the system, they run to academia for a solution. But in Nigeria, the reverse is the case.

    “This issue of renegotiation has lingered since 2009 and is overdue. We’re talking about funding of our universities.’’

    The complaints were the same in BUK, where the ASUU chapter Vice-Chairman, Yusuf Madugu, lamented that since the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan released  N200 billion revitalisation fund to be paid in six tranches, only one tranche had been released.

    “These revitalisation funds are funds that are needed for funding our universities. We need reagents in our laboratories, books in our libraries, classrooms and a conducive atmosphere for students to learn,” he said.

    President of the BUK Students Union Government, Abdullahi Usman-Baba, appealed to the government to dialogue with ASUU in the interest of students.

    “When there is a strike, it is the students who suffer most because our academic calendar gets disrupted.

    “We humbly plead with the government to sit with ASUU and listen to their demands,” Usman-Baba said.

    At the Yakubu Gowon University,  placard-carrying members said their salaries have remained on the same scale since 2009 in spite of repeated promises by the government.

     Their chapter Chairman, Sylvanus Ugoh, said: “We want the government and the public to understand the hardship we’re facing. 

    “Our members are dying in increasing numbers, 90 per cent of those deaths are stress-related.

    “No nation can grow beyond the strength and quality of its university education system.” 

      Chairman of ASUU, UNIUYO, Opeyemi Olajide,  said that lecturers in federal universities have been on a fixed salary for more than 16 years without any increase.  

    He added that the government refused to pay third-party deductions for salaries paid almost a year ago and arrears of promotion.

      His UNICAL counterpart,  Peter Ubi, said: “ASUU has tried several ways and strategies to resolve the conflict in the education sector.

    “Unfortunately, the government, in its characteristics, has paid deaf ears to our demands and has constantly pushed our union to embark on a strike.

    “In this regard, ASUU has to embark on a strike to press the Federal Government to do the needful.” 

     Some of the placards carried by the institutions’ lecturers  read: “Our salaries are too poor, ‘pay us sustainable living salaries’, ‘Treat lecturers with some dignity’, `We are FG lecturers and not borrowers’ and  ‘Government please sign and implement our renegotiated agreement.” 

    ASUU Chairman in Zamfara State University, Abdulrahaman Adam, accused the government of using ‘’ multiple committees   to manipulate and delay the implementation of its agreement with ASUU leadership.’’  

     He said: “Our condition of service is very poor, that is why we are running away to even Ghana and Cameroon, why can’t we do better than them?

    The government is budgeting a huge amount of money for education, but things are not working the way they should. ‘’ 

  • JUST IN: FG, ASUU begin meeting over strike

    JUST IN: FG, ASUU begin meeting over strike

    A meeting between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has commenced in Abuja.

    ASUU representatives to the meeting, led by its president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, are in the meeting at the Conference Hall of the Federal Ministry of Education, the event venue.

    The meeting followed a recent threat by the university lecturers’ union to down tools over the alleged federal government’s failure to meet its demands.

    Read Also: FG says CNG vehicles ‘ll reduce cost of transportation

    The Minister of Education and the Federal Ministry of Education’s top management staff are also in the meeting.

    The meeting aims to prevent another nationwide strike in public universities.

    Others in the delegation of ASUU are former past presidents of ASUU, led by the immediate past president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi.

    Details shortly…

  • Plateau varsity ASUU suspends strike

    Plateau varsity ASUU suspends strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Plateau State University Bokkos has suspended its almost three months industrial action.

    The branch chairman of the union, Comrade Monday Hassan, made this known to reporters after a brief congress meeting held at Azi Nyako Dadin Kowa Youth Center.

    Read Also; Petrol importation drops by 3.29% in 2023

    Comrade Hassan urged members of the union to resume duty.

    He assured that all lost period will be regained in the next four weeks.

    He thanked parents, students and the government for taking proactive measures to end the strike action.

  • Saraki seeks immediate end to ASUU strike

    Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday asked the Federal Government to immediately end the strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    Saraki said that the ASUU industrial action is already entering its 62nd day.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, to the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki emphasised the need for Nigeria’s universities to be re-opened without further delay.

    It said that Saraki highlighted the fact that education of Nigeria’s young people is being negatively affected by the stance of the government and disenfranchising the youths, many of whom are registered to vote in their universities — but are now stuck in their homes.

    Olaniyonu quoted Saraki to have said: “In November 2016, the Senate intervened in the ASUU strike and met with the officials of the Ministries of Education and Labour, Employment and Productivity and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

    “At that meeting, which was attended by the Minister of State for Education Anthony Anwuka and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Productivity in the National Assembly, we agreed that the Federal Government should work to implement the agreement that it reached with ASUU in 2009, and subsequently, we set up a sub-committee to liaise with both ASUU and the Federal Government on this issue.

    “The Federal Government must immediately work to address the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), because this issue goes beyond negotiations.

    “It is affecting the education of Nigeria’s students, and disenfranchising many of them from participating in the upcoming general elections.

    Read Also; Saraki, Ahmed crippled LGs in Kwara, not Buhari – APC

    “Make no mistake, we cannot continue this system whereby our universities will be frequently shut down, thereby slowing down the education of our young people — and creating negative bottlenecks that place unnecessary stress on our universities.

    “In another vein, our youth make up over 51 percent of registered voters. What does this mean for our electoral process, when young students who are registered to vote in their academic institutions, cannot do so because their schools are shut down? This is unacceptable.

    “In this regard, I call on the Federal Government to immediately work on meeting the demands of ASUU and honouring all its prior commitments.

    “On our part, the Senate will continue to work to ensure the education sector is strengthened — and we are ready and willing to collaborate with both the Federal Government and ASUU to end this strike, and ensure that it does not become a recurrent issue”

  • Strike: We are still consulting – ASUU President

    Three months after going on strike, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it is still consulting with its members over offers made by the Federal Government.

    The union’s National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos that they would meet with officials of the government within the week.

    According to him, government had made some offers in the course of meetings with ASUU which are still being deliberated by members.

    “We are still consulting with our chapters across the country.

    “There are promises that government made and we are trying to consult with the various university chapters on the options before the union.

    “By the time we are fully aware on what is left of our demands from what the government is offering, then we will know what steps to take, even as negotiations with the government continues.

    “For instance, we are in touch with about 20 universities that are affected, to be sure of the level of implementation.

    “By the time we finish our assessment, we will now send our response back to government, concerning the level of implementation.

    Read Also: ASUU tackles Fed Govt over N163 billion varsity funds

    “And depending on the outcome of our further engagements with government, we will now get back to our members,” he said.

    Ogunyemi said ASUU is expected to be involved in another round of meeting with the government within the week, adding that he expects a positive outcome.

    NAN reports that the university teachers have been on strike since Nov. 4, 2018 over alleged non-implementation of agreements it entered into with the federal government in 2009 and 2017.

    Their demands are on better welfare package and improved teaching and learning environment, among other issues.

  • End in sight for ASUU strike as govt, union agree on seven areas

    The strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities may be coming to an end as the striking lectures and Federal Government have reached an agreement on seven key areas.

    Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, after the meeting with ASUU officials led by its President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi stated that the government had made “substantial progress” in its discussion with the union.

    He said the government has released N163 billion from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) to satisfy some of the demands of ASUU.

    Ngige said the union and government had resolved most of the issues, adding that ASUU would need to consult its members and then inform the government of its decision.

    Ngige said: “Today we have agreed to fund revitalization. Government has released from TETFUND account about N163bn. The meeting will reconvene at the instance of ASUU. FG is not weak in the negotiation. The strike is not slipping out of our hands.

    ”We did not take a long time than we anticipated. We have other commitments but the important thing is that we have made substantial progress. We have reached some agreements in seven areas.

    “We have reached some agreements in seven areas. Most of the issues have been resolved but ASUU will need to consult its members and come with what they think. If you aggregate the total amount of money involved, it is beyond N50bn.

    “We are paying in several compartments and these are debt from 2019 to 2012. We have started defraying the earned allowances there and released N15.4bn for shortfall in the payment of salaries.

    Prof. Ogunyemi said discussion with the federal government will continue at a later date.

    He said the union had not called off the strike.

    Mr Ogunyemi said before the strike can be suspended, the government must address the issue of revitalization.

    He said: “We have not suspended the strike, the discussion will continue at a later date.

    “We are going back to our members for further consultation. FG gave us reaction to our proposals but there were still grey areas that we are trying to sort out.

    “Before the strike can be suspended, the most critical area that FG must address is revitalization. It is central to our academic work, unless that area is addressed, our members will still have issues.

    “We are not demanding for N50bn, we are saying that the minimum that Fg can release to reactivate revitalization fund is N50bn,” he added.

    Read also: Buhari to Ngige: end ASUU strike immediately

    President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier ordered Mr. Ngige, to end the over two-month-old strike by Nigerian university teachers before the meeting with the university lectures commenced.

    However, one major issue that keeps dragging the negotiations back and forth is the revitalisation of universities.

    At present, the government is yet to release the N1.1 trillion it agreed to release as part of the funds for the revitalisation project.

    The 2013 MoU stipulated that public universities needed N1.3 trillion for a modest revitalisation.

    The fund was to be released in tranches of N200billion in 2013, N220billion 2014, N220billion 2015, 220billion in 2016, N220billion in 2017 and N220billion in 2018.

    Although the previous government of Goodluck Jonathan released N200 billion in 2013 nothing has been released since then.