The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a new 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, urging them to address unresolved issues that have long been a source of contention.

ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, announced in a statement released on Wednesday, highlighting the union’s growing frustration with what they see as the government’s lack of commitment and continuous delay in fulfilling their obligations.

The ultimatum, which began on Monday, September 23, 2024, puts pressure on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take immediate action to resolve the outstanding matters.

According to Osodeke, the government’s repeated failure to honour past agreements has forced the union to take a stronger stance.

“In light of these ongoing challenges, ASUU has decided to extend another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, starting from September 23, 2024.

During this time, we expect all lingering issues to be fully addressed to the satisfaction of our members,” Osodeke stated.

He also made it clear that the union will not be held responsible for any disruptions or strikes that may occur if the government fails to seize this opportunity to prevent an impending crisis in the education sector.

The ultimatum represents ASUU’s final effort to avoid industrial action, but the growing tension indicates that another strike may be on the horizon if their demands are not met.

The unresolved issues that have plagued ASUU’s relationship with the government include matters related to funding for public universities, implementation of past agreements, and other key areas that directly impact the working conditions of academic staff and the overall quality of education in Nigeria.

This latest ultimatum has sparked renewed concerns among students and parents, who have faced repeated disruptions in the academic calendar due to previous ASUU strikes.

Many are watching closely to see how the government will respond, as failure to meet the union’s demands could lead to another prolonged strike, further destabilizing the university system in Nigeria.