In a critical move to resolve the long-standing dispute stemming from the 2009 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Federal Government is holding a high-stakes meeting in Abuja today. The session is expected to bring together top government officials—including the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Labour, the Solicitor-General, and representatives of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC)—to present a counter-offer to ASUU and outline a roadmap for implementing the renegotiated terms of the agreement.

The meeting follows renewed pressure from ASUU, whose branches across the country have signaled that their patience has worn thin. The union finalized a renegotiated version of the 2009 agreement in December 2024, which was formally submitted to the government in February 2025. However, delays in government action have raised concerns of another nationwide strike, prompting today’s urgent discussions. ASUU leaders maintain that they have fulfilled their obligations and are now demanding that the government demonstrate seriousness by signing and beginning the phased implementation of the revised agreement.

The original 2009 agreement, signed during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, promised comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s public university system. These included improved funding, institutional autonomy, revised academic salaries and working conditions, and a framework to monitor implementation. Yet, successive governments have either failed to fully implement the agreement or reneged on key aspects, triggering repeated industrial actions that have severely disrupted Nigeria’s higher education sector.

However, officials believe this round of negotiations may succeed, partly due to the proactive approach of Dr. Alausa. His interventions have led to the release of N50 billion in earned academic allowances earlier this year, a gesture that helped rebuild some trust with the academic community. He also introduced the Diaspora BRIDGE Initiative, aiming to reconnect Nigerian scholars abroad with local universities for mentorship and collaboration—signaling a more holistic approach to reform.

Today’s meeting is expected to reconcile various versions of the agreement—including the original 2009 document, the Yayale Ahmed report, and Nimi Briggs recommendations—and produce a concrete plan for phased implementation backed by legal and budgetary frameworks.