The Federal Government has announced the commencement of the final phase of negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions within the tertiary education sector.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this known in Abuja during a meeting of the Technical Working Group on Conditions of Service of ASUU. He expressed optimism that lingering issues would soon be resolved, aiming to prevent any further disruptions to the academic calendar.
According to the minister, the Technical Working Group is finalising a counteroffer which will soon be presented to the unions through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee. This move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that every necessary step must be taken to ensure that Nigerian students remain in school.
“The President has made it clear that our children must remain in school. The Technical Working Group is finalising a component of the condition of service to be proposed. Hopefully, by the end of today or by tomorrow at the latest, the counteroffer will be ready for presentation,” Alausa said.
He revealed that about 80% of the unions’ demands are common across all tertiary institutions, while the remaining 20% pertain to sector-specific concerns. He noted that the committee, inaugurated earlier in the week, had already begun intensive deliberations to fast-track agreement and implementation timelines.
Highlighting the government’s financial commitments, Alausa pointed out that ₦50 billion has already been disbursed as Earned Academic Allowance, with an additional ₦150 billion included in the 2025 budget for needs assessment—set to be released in three tranches, starting with ₦50 billion.
“Our lecturers and non-academic staff deserve substantial financial rewards, and while we may not be able to meet all demands at once, we are committed to offering significant improvements,” he said.
The minister also confirmed that promotion arrears and other outstanding allowances—including teaching and wage awards—have been addressed, with remaining issues expected to be cleared by 2026.
Reaffirming the government’s dedication to mutual respect and sustainable solutions, Alausa appealed to academic and non-academic unions to exercise patience and refrain from resorting to strikes.
“We understand that the final hurdle is the condition of service, and we are working diligently to resolve it. We urge all tertiary education unions to be patient with this administration, which has demonstrated sincerity and commitment over the past two years,” he stated.
In a significant development, Alausa disclosed that the Solicitor General of the Federation and officials from the Ministry of Justice are now directly involved in the negotiation process to ensure that all agreements reached are legally sound and enforceable.
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