The Federal Government has clarified that no binding agreement has been signed with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), describing the document currently in circulation as a draft.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, explained that government remains committed to resolving all outstanding issues with ASUU in a way that is both realistic and sustainable.
The Minister emphasised that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that lasting solutions be put in place to prevent future disruptions in the university system. He noted that government will not endorse any arrangement that is bogus or unsustainable, but will instead pursue agreements that are practical, implementable, and constitutionally backed.
Dr. Alausa assured Nigerians that recent ASUU protests would not escalate into strike action, as government has been engaging the union continuously and constructively. He stressed that every promise made to Nigerian academics and students will be fulfilled truthfully and honestly.
At a high-level meeting convened in Abuja, key stakeholders reviewed ASUU’s proposals line by line. The meeting had in attendance the Minister of State for Education, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Education, Labour and Justice, Executive Secretary National Universities Commission, Salaries and Wages Commission, the Budget Office, and Executive Secretary TETFund.
A technical committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary of Education has now been tasked with producing a clean report that will be submitted to the Yayale Ahmed-led Committee for further engagement with ASUU.
The Minister further confirmed that progress has been made on specific concerns such as earned academic allowances, with payments already made and future allowances fully mainstreamed into the system. He also assured that the 2025 wage bill would be settled once funds are available.
Reiterating the government’s position, Dr. Alausa said: “The President sees young people as the heartbeat of our nation. He does not want any strike, and he has mandated us to ensure our children remain in school. We are committed to this task with honesty of purpose and respect for all parties.”
The Ministry of Education reaffirmed that government’s priority is to keep schools open and to ensure Nigerian students continue learning without disruption.
Elijah Adeyemi
