The ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has entered its sixth day with no sign of progress, as negotiations between the union and the federal government remain deadlocked.
Despite the intervention of the House of Representatives, which has expressed readiness to mediate in the dispute, ASUU maintained that there has been no communication or tangible action from the government.
The chairman of ASUU at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, told LEADERSHIP yesterday that there was no progress when he was contacted on the dispute. “There is no update yet. Let’s see by the end of the day if there will be,” he said.
The action has already paralysed academic activities nationwide, rekindling fears of another prolonged disruption in Nigeria’s public tertiary education system.
In an attempt to avert a total shutdown, the House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to wade into the crisis between the Federal Government and ASUU.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Sesi Whingan, a member representing the Badagry Federal Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Whingan explained that the intervention was aimed at finding a lasting solution to the recurring crises that have repeatedly crippled the university system, noting that the House leadership was concerned about the plight of students and the burden placed on parents, insisting that sustained dialogue remained the only path toward resolution.
The move by the House came amid growing tension and pressure from students, who have borne the brunt of the continued industrial unrest.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) issued a seven-day ultimatum to both ASUU and the Federal Government to resolve their differences or face mass protests across the country.
The student body lamented that its members had repeatedly suffered disruptions to their studies due to recurring disputes between the two sides.
In its statement, NANS warned that Nigerian students would no longer serve as collateral damage in the ongoing standoff, urging both the government and ASUU to act responsibly and prioritise the future of education.
