The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that it may resume its nationwide strike if negotiations with the Federal Government fail to produce a positive result before its one-month ultimatum expires.

ASUU Kano Zonal Coordinator, Abdulkadir Muhammad, issued the caution on Monday in Kano during a press briefing held after the zone’s meeting.

The lecturers had in October halted their warning strike and gave the Federal Government a one-month deadline to address their demands, which focused on their welfare and the need to ensure a favourable teaching and learning atmosphere.

Muhammad criticised what he called the slow and unhurried manner of renegotiating crucial agreements aimed at revamping Nigeria’s public university system.

The meeting was attended by delegates from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; Bayero University Kano (BUK); and Kaduna State University (KASU).

Also present were representatives from Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH), Wudil; Federal University Dutse (FUD); Northwest University (NWU), Kano; and Sule Lamido University (SLUK), Kafin Hausa.

Muhammad said this stemmed from the report submitted at ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) gathering, which took place on Nov. 8 and 9 at Taraba State University.

He stated that NEC voiced displeasure over the sluggish progress of the ongoing negotiations between the union and the government, describing it as a major barrier to bringing the process to a meaningful end.

He added that the suspension of the strike in October was intended to provide a conducive atmosphere and demonstrate goodwill toward Nigerians.

“However, our hope for a holistic and timely resolution of the issues is increasingly being dashed.

“It is unfortunate that some government functionaries employ different tactics to undermine the renegotiation process and misinform the public on the state of our engagements,” he told newsmen.

He said that the government had yet to show genuine commitment to improving lecturers’ welfare or addressing the conditions that fuel brain drain in the university system.

“What government has offered will neither improve the working conditions of academics nor attract scholars from other countries to our universities,” he said.

According to him, it is unfortunate that some government officials claim that ASUU demands have been met.

He urged the Federal Government to place a moratorium on the establishment of state universities, as it did for federal universities.

“Governors have cultivated the habit of establishing universities in their states without commitment to funding them,” he said.