The Federal Government on Thursday gave the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, one week ultimatum to call off the on-going strike.
The directive was given today, in Abuja by the acting Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike while speaking with journalists.
Wike, in a statement he read at the press conference in Abuja, said the decision of the pro-chancellors must be carried out.
The Minister said any staff who failed to resume on or before December 4, 2013 automatically ceases to be a staff of the institution and that vice-chancellors are allowed to advertise vacancies for their positions in their institutions.
The Minister said this step became necessary because the Federal Government has come to the conclusion that the continued industrial action is an attempt by the Academic Staff Union of Universities to sabotage all efforts to address the issues, despite the commitment of government.
The union has been on a nationwide strike since July 1, demanding the government implements a 2009 agreement it had with the union.
The lecturers had last week, at the end of the ASUU NEC meeting, resolved to take a definite position on the government's offer and the strike after meeting President Goodluck Jonathan this week before any announcement will be made concerning the 5-month-old strike.
The meeting with the President is yet to hold.