The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced that its leadership organs will meet to determine the next steps as the one-month ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government over unresolved issues in public tertiary institutions expires today (Saturday).

This was confirmed by the acting NLC Secretary-General, Benson Upah, in an interview with journalists on Friday in Abuja.

Last month, following a joint meeting with unions across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, the NLC gave the Federal Government a four-week deadline to resolve outstanding disputes affecting universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

During the earlier briefing, NLC President Joe Ajaero stated that the crisis was far beyond the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) alone, stressing that the era of empty negotiations and unfulfilled agreements must end.

NLC to Decide Next Action

With the expiration of the ultimatum, Upah reaffirmed the Congress’ commitment to safeguarding industrial peace within tertiary institutions.

“In line with our promise and our commitment to the legitimate concerns of unions in the tertiary education sector, the relevant organs of the Congress will convene and decide on the next line of action. The public will be duly informed,” he said.

NANS Warns FG, Seeks Swift Action

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently avert a full-blown strike in universities.

Speaking with reporters, NANS Assistant Secretary-General Adejuwon Olatunji-Emmanuel urged the government to take “urgent, decisive and lasting action” to address ASUU’s grievances, noting that the current warning strike should not be allowed to escalate.

He emphasised that since the start of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Nigerian universities have enjoyed a level of stability not seen since 1999—progress he said must not be disrupted.

According to him, uninterrupted learning is essential for national development, student productivity and the overall well-being of millions of young people relying on a functional education system.

He called on all parties to prioritise meaningful dialogue to ensure campuses remain open.

ASUU’s One-Month Window Has Expired

ASUU had on October 22 suspended its two-week warning strike, giving the Federal Government a one-month window to meet its demands. That period lapsed on Friday.

Some of ASUU’s key demands include:

• Renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU–Federal Government agreement
  
• Payment of outstanding salaries and earned academic allowances
  
• Release of revitalisation funds for universities
  

The union previously warned that it could resume industrial action without issuing further notice if government failed to act within the agreed timeframe.

FG Insists Demands Have Been Met

Minister of Education Tunji Alausa recently insisted that the Federal Government has addressed the union’s demands. Speaking two weeks ago, he reiterated President Tinubu’s directive that no strike should occur in public universities, adding that negotiations were ongoing and that every effort was being made to keep students in school.