President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Christopher Piwuna, has said the union was entering a critical two-day meeting with the Federal Government, stressing that the talks would determine whether or not lecturers proceed with a suspended industrial action.
Addressing journalists on the sidelines of the 2025 Harmattan School organised by Nigeria Labour Congress, Piwuna maintained that ASUU’s fight to protect the sector remains unwavering.
“Our commitment to prioritise education in Nigeria is unshakable. We will continue to defend this sector no matter the pressure,” the ASUU President said.
He criticised the Federal Ministry of Education’s repeated claims that most of the union’s demands had been met, noting that government officials have quietly shifted their language.
He added: “We’ve always been unhappy with the Federal Ministry of Education when they come out to say they have met all our demands. But I can see the grammar is changing a bit now.
“It’s almost all the demands, that’s what they’re saying now. But clearly there are still issues, specifically our 2009 agreement, which is why we’re meeting this afternoon (Monday).”
Piwuna clarified that the union did not declare any strike for Friday but made it clear that the outcome of the ongoing talks with the federal government would determine its next steps.
He added: “No, there is no branch or zone that said strike will start on Friday. They were referring to the expiration of the ultimatum we had given to the government.
If this meeting took place last week and it had failed, then what would have happened on Friday would be clear to Nigerians. But now that the meeting is holding today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday), we are hoping that we’ll get back to our members before the weekend to report to them.
“If the meeting today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday) fails, we will return to our members and report to them that it has failed, and they will tell us what to do. And we’ll do exactly what they ask us to do.
“Our commitment is unshakable as it was with our past leaders, as it is today. We will continue to fight for education in Nigeria.”