The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the Federal Government to improve funding for public universities, warning that sustainable investment in education remained the only path to ending strikes.
The ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, who spoke on behalf of the union, when it appeared before the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund at the National Assembly, stated that the ongoing two-week warning strike resulted from longstanding issues that dated as far back as 2011.
Piwuna said the Yayale Ahmed Committee report, submitted in December 2024, was ignored until this industrial action began, noting that the key demands of ASUU, including sustainable funding, improved conditions of service, revitalisation of public universities and academic autonomy, remain unchanged.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress governor’s forum has appealed to ASUU to embrace dialogue in resolving its grievances, saying negotiation remains the only sustainable solution to issues affecting the education sector.
Chairman of the forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma made the appeal after a meeting with members of the forum, urging the university lecturers to “sheath their swords and return to the dialogue table in the interest of the nation’s education system.”
