The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted the Federal Government for its sluggish response to the union’s long-standing demands, even as the 14-day ultimatum to avert a nationwide warning strike expires on Sunday.
ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, stated this on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, where he criticised the government’s “last-minute” appeal to prevent the impending strike, describing it as “too little, too late.”
“The problem we have with this government and the leadership of the Ministry of Education is that they are slow in responding to our demands,” Piwuna said.
According to him, despite several meetings and correspondences between ASUU and the ministry, the government has repeatedly failed to act within agreed timelines.
“They gave us three weeks during our meeting in Sokoto when we were about to go on strike.
“We accepted the three weeks, but never heard from them again until the period elapsed,” he explained.
Piwuna added that the government only reached out after the union threatened industrial action, a pattern he described as a recurring issue.
“Not even a courtesy message to say they needed more time—nothing—until we threatened to act. Now, just two days to our planned strike, they are appealing to us,” he lamented.
He also expressed frustration over the protracted renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement, which has remained unresolved for more than eight years.
“Our 2009 agreement is still not concluded, and two working days to a strike, they come with an appeal.
“I think this intervention came a little too late,” he added.
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