Barring any last-minute change in plan, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities will begin a two-week warning strike on Monday.

This follows the expiration of the two-week ultimatum they gave the Federal Government to meet their lingering demands.

Despite the ultimatum ending on Sunday night, the Federal Government had yet to issue any public comment on the imminent industrial action.

ASUU had directed its branches to prepare for a warning strike.

The latest standoff between the university lecturers and the Federal Government comes despite ongoing negotiations aimed at averting another round of industrial action in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed in Abuja that the government had entered the final phase of talks with ASUU and other unions to resolve lingering disputes over welfare, funding, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.

Alausa noted that the Tinubu administration had already made significant progress with the release of N50bn for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances, while another N150bn had been captured in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, to be disbursed in three tranches.

“They (lecturers) deserve to be paid well, and our academic and non-academic staff deserve improved welfare,” he said. “But we can’t give everything at once. What matters is our sincerity and commitment to substantial improvements in their conditions.”

He added that promotion arrears and other outstanding allowances, including teaching and wage awards, had been addressed, while remaining obligations would be cleared by 2026.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to sustainable peace in the education sector, Alausa appealed to the unions to exercise patience and embrace dialogue instead of resorting to strikes.

“We have resolved many of these issues, and we are at the final stage — the condition of service,” he said.

“This government is sincere and has demonstrated that over the last two years. Please bear with us.”

Alausa also revealed that, for the first time, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and officials of the Ministry of Justice were directly involved in the negotiation process to ensure legal soundness and enforceability of the agreements.

But ASUU president, Prof. Chris Piwuna, criticised the Ministry of Education for what he described as its habitual delay in addressing critical issues affecting university lecturers.

He said, “Their ultimatum expires on Sunday, and after that, there will be a warning strike unless something substantial comes out from the government. So, in the next 48 hours, we expect to receive something substantial from the government.

“Then, we can go back to our members and ask, ‘Do you think this is sufficient for us to hold on?’ and we will do what our members ask us to do.”

Meanwhile sources across some federal universities, notably the University of Jos, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Abuja among others confirmed that mobilization for strike has already commenced.

At the University of Jos, our correspondent learnt that leadership of ASUU also met with union leaders in a bid to draw support.

When our correspondent reached out to the ministry of education, The spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo declined comments. (Sunday PUNCH)