By Abiola Olawale
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is set to hold a crucial National Executive Council (NEC) meeting today, Tuesday, October 21, 2025, to deliberate on the future of its nationwide two-week warning strike as the industrial action enters its second week.
The meeting follows reports of ongoing negotiations and mixed results from congresses held by various university branches yesterday.
The two-week warning strike, which commenced on Monday, October 13, 2025, has effectively shut down academic activities across public universities, putting the academic calendar of millions of Nigerian students in jeopardy.
ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, confirmed in a recent bulletin that engagements with the Federal Government’s Renegotiation Team, led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, have recorded “progress in five key areas.”
These areas include the release of third-party deductions, payment of promotion arrears, mainstreaming of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), and the resolution of issues concerning the University of Abuja land and the victimisation of members in certain state universities.
Meanwhile, an official of ASUU who spoke with the press confirmed that the union is holding its NEC meeting today.
The ASUU officials said: “You know that critical information about ASUU is not always for public consumption.
“This Congress is taking place all over the nation today because the NEC meeting will take place tomorrow (Tuesday).
“Referendum will be conducted later. Here in our branch, almost everyone was in support of the strike to continue. It’s just a formality. So we are awaiting the NEC to make our position official.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has given a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet the demands of ASUU and other unions in tertiary institutions or risk a nationwide shutdown by labour.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero made the threat in Abuja on Monday following a meeting of the union and leaders of tertiary institutions’ based unions.
Ajaero said the four weeks were to enable the government to address all the outstanding issues of the unions, including the 2009 agreement with ASUU.
According to him, the indefinite strike action is in solidarity with its educational unions.
Ajaero believes that if the Federal Government is sincere, labour can end all industrial actions immediately.
However, he said if the government continues to take labour for granted, then they will have no choice but to shut down the country.
