The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to resolving all lingering disputes with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), assuring Nigerians that ongoing negotiations are progressing steadily toward a lasting solution for the nation’s tertiary education system.
Speaking in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the government remains determined to reach a comprehensive and transparent agreement with ASUU and other tertiary institution unions through a unified negotiation framework.
He disclosed that the Yayale Ahmed-led Expanded Negotiation Committee will, in the coming days, receive ASUU’s counteroffer to move discussions closer to finalising a new collective agreement.
“Tomorrow, the Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institution Expanded Negotiation Committee will receive that counteroffer from ASUU,” Dr. Alausa said. “The committee has already reached out to ASUU and other unions to fix dates for their meetings.”
Tinubu’s Directive: “No More Strikes”
The Minister noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given a firm directive that “our children must remain in school,” stressing that the administration is working to end the cycle of industrial actions that have repeatedly disrupted academic calendars.
“We must do everything possible to avoid strikes. People at the highest levels of government are working intensely to provide a robust but sustainable response to union demands,” he stated.
Dr. Alausa explained that many of the unresolved issues predate the Tinubu administration by more than a decade but assured that the current government has the political will to address them decisively.
Unified Negotiation Framework
The Minister further revealed that, unlike in the past when separate committees handled negotiations for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, the new Expanded Negotiation Committee brings all academic and non-academic unions under one umbrella. This approach, he said, would ensure faster, more coordinated results and eliminate bureaucratic delays.
Government’s Financial Commitments
Highlighting recent financial interventions, Dr. Alausa disclosed that the Federal Government has released ₦50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and earmarked ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for the revitalisation of public tertiary institutions.
He added that promotion arrears and wage award payments have been addressed, with plans to fully clear outstanding allowances by 2026.
Justice Ministry’s New Role in Talks
In a move to ensure transparency and legal accountability, Dr. Alausa announced that, for the first time, the Minister of Justice and the Solicitor-General are directly participating in the negotiation process.
“This is the first time ASUU and other unions are negotiating with the government where the Solicitor-General and Minister of Justice will sign off on every agreement,” he noted. “We are doing this holistically and with full intent to resolve the matter once and for all.”
Dr. Alausa appealed to ASUU and other unions to remain patient and maintain dialogue, assuring that the government is acting in good faith.
“We’re sincere, truthful, and genuinely committed to resolving these issues. The President’s directive is clear — our children must stay in school,” he concluded.
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