ASUU: Nigerians Await Outcome of Adamu’s Negotiation

The two-week window given to Education Minister Adamu Adamu to mediate the ongoing standoff between the Federal Government and university unions will close tomorrow.

Minister Adamu took over the negotiations from Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige, who had been leading talks until recently. President Muhammadu Buhari instructed the Education Minister to report back after attempting to reach a truce with the striking unions.

The unions involved include:

• Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)

• Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)

• Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU)

• National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT)

The strike revolves around issues concerning the welfare and payment of university staff.

Current Status of the Negotiation

ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, told The Nation that the union has not yet received official communication from the government since Minister Adamu took over.

He also confirmed that the proposed 100% pay rise being considered by the government has not been formally presented to ASUU. Prof. Osodeke said:

“There has been nothing from the Federal Government since the minister took over. He has not met with us. He still has two days before the two-week ultimatum ends.”

History of the Strike

1. February 14, 2022 – ASUU declared a one-month strike over the non-implementation of the Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed with the Federal Government and the government’s insistence on the IPPIS payment platform.

2. March 14, 2022 – The strike was extended to two months.

3. After the two-month warning strike, ASUU declared a three-month strike.

4. As of Monday, August 2022, the strike had lasted 168 days.

ASUU prefers the United Technical & Allied Services (UTAS) platform over IPPIS for payment of salaries due to discrepancies in the IPPIS system.

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FAQs About the ASUU Strike Mediation

Who is leading the mediation between the government and the unions?

• Education Minister Adamu Adamu is currently mediating the negotiations, having taken over from Labour Minister Chris Ngige.

What is the government offering to end the strike?

• The Federal Government is reportedly considering a 100% pay rise for university lecturers, but this has not yet been formally presented to ASUU.

Why did ASUU go on strike?

• The strike is over:

  • Non-implementation of the Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed with the government.

  • The insistence on using IPPIS as the payment platform instead of UTAS, which ASUU prefers.

How long has the strike lasted so far?

• The strike entered its 168th day as of August 2022, after a series of one-month, two-month, and three-month strike actions.

When will we know the outcome of the mediation?

• The two-week mediation window closes tomorrow. The government and ASUU are expected to report the result shortly after, either reaching a truce or continuing negotiations.