The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have resumed negotiation over a proposed 40 per cent salary increase for university lecturers.
A source familiar with the meeting told News Men on Monday in Abuja that the proposal was presented ahead of ASUU’s return to the negotiation table with the government delegation led by Yayale Ahmed.
The development followed a resolution reached during ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Sunday in Abuja, where branch leaders were mandated to brief members nationwide.
According to the source, who preferred anonymity due to negotiation protocols, the union is expected to reconvene with the government next week.
“They made a proposal of a 40 per cent salary increment. Branch leaders will go back and update members on the situation. As it stands, negotiations continue with the government next week,” the source said.
ASUU had earlier issued a one-month ultimatum to the Federal Government, which expired on Saturday, raising concerns across public universities.
In an effort to avert a shutdown of academic activities, the government invited ASUU leadership to a meeting in Abuja, which lasted from Monday to Tuesday, although details were not made public.
The union had threatened a full-scale strike, accusing the government of failing to address key demands, including the review of the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned academic allowances, and release of the university revitalisation fund.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who is currently out of the country, had earlier maintained that the Federal Government had substantially met the union’s demands.
Alausa had reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s directive that no strike should disrupt academic activities in public universities, assuring that negotiations were ongoing to maintain stability in the sector.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also pledged support for ASUU and vowed to intervene if the government fails to honour its commitments.
