The Federal Government has entered the final phase of talks with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary education unions, as it seeks to avert further disruptions in Nigerian universities.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, revealed on Wednesday that the Technical Working Group on ASUU’s Conditions of Service is finalising a counter-offer to be presented through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee.

“The President has directed that all efforts must be made to keep students in school. The technical working group is working to finalise the counter-offer, which will be forwarded to ASUU by today or tomorrow at the latest,” Alausa said.

The minister noted that the current administration has made notable progress, including the payment of N50 billion as Earned Academic Allowance, part of efforts to meet the union’s demands.

The development is seen as a critical step toward ending the ongoing standoff and restoring normal academic activities across the nation’s universities.