The Federal Ministry of Education is racing against time to prevent another strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as the 21-day ultimatum issued by the union expires soon.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, insists that lecturers will embark on another strike unless the Federal Government meets their demands, which include payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, release of withheld salaries, and stoppage of illegal recruitments.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had invited ASUU for a meeting to deliberate on the lingering issues affecting universities, but Osodeke says the agreements reached have not been implemented.
Osodeke highlights the contentious issues, including emergency revitalisation fund, proliferation of public universities, and removal of universities from the Treasury Single Account.
The Federal Ministry of Education spokesperson, Folashade Biriowo, says the ministry is working on the issues, but ASUU remains skeptical.
Osodeke emphasizes that ASUU is committed to dialogue but will not hesitate to take action if their demands are not met.
With the 21-day ultimatum expiring soon, the possibility of another strike looms, threatening the academic calendar and the future of Nigerian universities.
