The Federal Government has reportedly offered a 40 per cent salary increase to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities as negotiations resume under the leadership of Yayale Ahmed, following ASUU’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
A source at the meeting said, “They made a proposal of a 40% salary increment. Branch leaders will go back and update members on the situation. As it stands, negotiations continue with the government next week,” even as ASUU’s one-month ultimatum to the government expired on Saturday, raising fears of a potential strike.
Key issues on the table include the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, unpaid salaries and allowances, and funding for university revitalisation, while Minister of Education Tunji Alausa, who earlier insisted the government had met the union’s demands, reiterated that President Bola Tinubu does not want another shutdown of public universities, saying, “We’ve met literally all their requirements and are back at the negotiation table. We will resolve this.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress has thrown its support behind ASUU, warning it will intervene if the government fails to act.