NLC Holds Emergency Meeting with Tertiary Unions Over Ongoing University Strike and Workers’ Concerns
NLC Holds Emergency Meeting with Tertiary Unions Over Ongoing University Strike and Workers’ Concerns
The Nigeria Labour Congress has initiated a crucial meeting with leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, among others. The gathering aims to address the ongoing university strike and other concerns raised by workers in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The meeting is currently underway at the NLC national headquarters in Abuja.
This development follows an invitation from the NLC to union leaders across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to a summit aimed at finding lasting solutions to the issues arising from failed negotiations with the Federal Government.
Nigeria’s higher education sector has been plagued by persistent instability, with the latest crisis leading to the closure of universities nationwide due to the ongoing strike by ASUU.
Recall that ASUU’s National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, announced the strike during a press briefing at the University of Abuja on Sunday. The action followed the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government on September 28. The union cited unresolved issues including staff welfare, infrastructure deficits, salary arrears, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.
Recent negotiation efforts have failed to prevent industrial action. Education Minister Tunji Alausa indicated two weeks ago that discussions had reached an advanced stage, noting that the government had released N50 billion for earned academic allowances and allocated N150 billion in the 2025 budget for a needs assessment, to be paid in three installments. However, ASUU dismissed these measures as inadequate.
ASUU’s key demands include the full implementation of the 2009 agreement, the release of three and a half months of withheld salaries, sustainable funding for universities, protection against victimization, payment of outstanding promotion and salary arrears, and the release of deductions withheld for cooperatives and union contributions.
The NLC expressed strong solidarity with ASUU and other tertiary education unions, calling for active participation from all union leaders. It reaffirmed the principle of “No Pay, No Work,” urging the government to honor collective agreements and respect workers’ rights.
The emergency meeting aims to determine the next steps for industrial action and develop strategies to protect the welfare of university staff, as well as to ensure the continued quality and accessibility of Nigeria’s public tertiary education system.
