The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the Federal Government a four-week ultimatum to conclude all ongoing negotiations in the tertiary education sector within four weeks or face industrial actionn.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, announced the ultimatum at an emergency press conference in Abuja on Monday, October 20, 2025.
The press conference follows an extensive meeting with unions in the tertiary institutions.
Ajaero explained that the ultimatum followed years of unfulfilled agreements and underfunding of the education sector, which he said had contributed to recurring strikes and instability in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
“We have decided to give the federal government four weeks to conclude all ongoing negotiations in the sector,” Ajaero said.
He said failure to meet the deadline would compel the NLC to mobilise all workers and unions across the country for a nationwide action.
“After four weeks, if no meaningful progress is made, the organs of the NLC will meet and take a nationwide action that will involve all workers and all unions in the country,” he added.
Ajaero added that the congress has resolved to work with education unions to ensure lasting solutions to the challenges in the sector.
He said the NLC also established a framework for engagement toward implementing outstanding agreements and ensuring sustainable funding of the education sector.
The NLC boss stated: “We are committed to ensuring that education in Nigeria receives adequate attention and sustainable funding in line with the minimum benchmark of 25 per cent budgetary allocation.
“We call for the review of wage structures and allowances for academic and non-academic staff to reflect current economic realities.
“The welfare of workers in our tertiary institutions is critical to achieving quality education. We can’t continue to operate with outdated wage structures while expecting world-class results.
“We will not fold our arms while our education system suffers. If the government fails to act, we will mobilise all unions to demand justice and fairness.”
