By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is preparing to embark on a two-week warning strike starting Monday, unless there is a last-minute resolution.
This follows the expiration of the two-week ultimatum earlier issued to the Federal Government to address the union’s long-standing demands. As the deadline draws to a close on Sunday night, the Federal Government has yet to make any official statement on the looming strike.
ASUU had previously directed all its chapters to get ready for a possible warning strike. The ongoing dispute between the union and the Federal Government comes despite continuing negotiations aimed at preventing another disruption in academic activities across Nigerian universities.
Earlier in the week, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed that the government had entered the final phase of discussions with ASUU and other tertiary institution unions to resolve long-standing issues involving welfare, funding, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
He explained that the administration of President Bola Tinubu had already taken key steps by releasing N50 billion for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances, while an additional N150 billion had been allocated in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, to be disbursed in three phases.
“They (lecturers) deserve to be paid well, and our academic and non-academic staff deserve improved welfare. But we can’t give everything at once. What matters is our sincerity and commitment to substantial improvements in their conditions,” Alausa had said.
However, ASUU President, Prof Chris Piwuna, criticised the Ministry of Education for what he called its consistent failure to promptly tackle major issues affecting lecturers.
“Their ultimatum expires on Sunday, and after that, there will be a warning strike unless something substantial comes out from the government. So, in the next 48 hours, we expect to receive something substantial from the government.
“Then, we can go back to our members and ask, ‘Do you think this is sufficient for us to hold on?’ And we will do what our members ask us to do,” he said.