The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the Kano Zone has warned of a potential strike due to the Federal Government’s insincere handling of ongoing negotiations. Zonal Coordinator Abdulkadir Muhammad announced the union’s concerns following a recent meeting, indicating that trust in the government’s commitment to addressing longstanding issues in the university system is rapidly diminishing.
Despite halting a two-week warning strike in October to allow for what they hoped would be productive discussions, ASUU claims that government negotiators have resorted to delaying tactics and misinformation.
Muhammad stated: “The renegotiation process is moving at a snail’s pace… Some government functionaries are undermining the talks and misinforming the public about the state of our engagement.”
He further criticized the government for its lack of genuine commitment to improving conditions for Nigerian academics, warning that the current proposals will not address the significant brain drain affecting public universities or attract international scholars.
ASUU has given the government a one-month ultimatum to respond satisfactorily to their demands. Muhammad called upon traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organizations, students, parents, and other stakeholders to exert pressure on the government to resolve outstanding issues and prevent another nationwide university shutdown.
The situation underscores rising tensions between university lecturers and the Federal Government, creating the possibility of significant disruptions to students’ academic schedules if negotiations fail to produce positive outcomes.
