ASUU, FG Tussle: Confusion as union disappoints FG, insists on strike

Fresh revelations have emerged suggesting that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, may be undermining efforts to reform and resolve long-standing issues that often lead to strikes in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

Contrary to the widespread belief that the government failed to act, exclusive inside information obtained by NEWS9JA revealed that the federal government had engaged ASUU in active discussions up until last Friday, just days before the union publicly declared its strike.

According to our sources, the crucial meeting, which lasted several hours, was attended by the FG negotiation team led by Senator Lanre Tejuosho, with key ASUU leaders on the other hand. Both parties described talks as frank and constructive.

At the end of the meeting, ASUU reportedly assured the government delegation that it would revert with feedback after consulting its members.

However, a senior government official at the Ministry of Education, who was part of the FG negotiation team, revealed to our reporter that ASUU never reverted. “They promised to get back after the meeting, but they didn’t. The next thing we saw was their public announcement of a nationwide strike.”

Reacting to the commencement of the strike, officials claimed the government had shown sufficient responsiveness to ASUU. ”It held meetings and opened fresh dialogues within the two-week notice period given by the union, yet the union appeared to have made up its mind to embark on the strike”.

Recall that last week, ASUU National President, Chris Piwuna, warned that the union’s position on a warning strike would not change unless its demands were met by the federal government.

A source from the ASUU camp confirmed to our reporter that after the Friday meeting, the union did not respond to calls from the government seeking their position.

According to our ministry source, “ASUU only got back on Sunday, after they had already gone public with the strike, and are yet to commit to another meeting date.

This new development has left observers wondering whether ASUU is genuinely pursuing a resolution or has taken a hardline position to undermine reforms in the education sector.

Meanwhile, as the ASUU, government controversy rages, a group within the University union, identified as Congress of University Academics, CONUA, has dissociated itself from the union.

Its National President, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, dismissed reports claiming it was part of the industrial action, saying, “CONUA has not declared any strike and is not part of any ongoing strike.”

Following the commencement of the strike, the federal government has warned it will enforce the “no work, no pay” policy if lecturers continue the industrial action.

As of the time of filing this report, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, again reiterated that it has met every demand raised by ASUU, urging the union to suspend its strike.