The Senate has intervened in the ongoing dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government, pledging to help end the union’s two-week warning strike through renewed dialogue.
The Senate has waded into the ongoing crisis between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government, which has resulted in a two-week warning strike by university lecturers.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Muntari Dandutse, disclosed this after a meeting with ASUU executives at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Friday.
Dandutse acknowledged “the concerns and frustrations” that led to the strike and assured that the committee would take ASUU’s demands seriously.
“We recognise the critical role that our universities play in shaping the future of our nation,” he said, adding that the Senate is committed to ensuring Nigeria’s higher institutions “receive the support they need to thrive.”
After a closed-door session, Dandutse said the committee resolved to engage the Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to begin immediate negotiations. It also plans to address the dispute over the University of Abuja’s revoked land.
ASUU President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, said the strike was over issues of funding, conditions of service, and university autonomy.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau assured that the upper chamber and President Bola Tinubu were committed to resolving the crisis promptly to prevent further disruption to academic activities.