By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

Tension is high within Nigeria’s university community as the national leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) prepares to meet on Thursday, in Abuja.

The union is expected to deliver a “State of the Nation” address during the meeting scheduled for this morning, fueling uncertainty, especially among students, as many fear the possibility of an impending strike.

This meeting comes exactly one week after ASUU issued the federal government a fresh 14-day pre-strike notice, raising concerns about the potential for academic disruptions.

The 14-day ultimatum followed a previous 21-day notice issued by the union on August 18, demanding that the government address their longstanding grievances.

ASUU has been pushing for the review and signing of the renegotiated 2009 agreement with the federal government. Other key demands include the revitalization fund for public universities, payment of outstanding earned academic allowances, and the release of withheld salaries.

The union is also calling for the resolution of promotion arrears and third-party deductions affecting its members, as well as the cessation of illegal recruitment, the proliferation of public universities, and the abuse of university laws, among other issues.

The outcome of today’s meeting could significantly impact the future of public university education in Nigeria, as many await the union’s next move.