The Federal Government has announced that it has entered the final phase of negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions within the tertiary education sector.
During a meeting of the Technical Working Group on Conditions of Service of ASUU held in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, expressed confidence that remaining issues would soon be resolved to prevent any further disruptions to the academic calendar.
He revealed that the government is in the process of finalising a counteroffer, which will be submitted to the unions through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee. This initiative is in line with the presidential directive to ensure students remain in school and learning continues without interruptions.
“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. Hopefully, by the end of today or latest tomorrow, the counteroffer will be submitted,” the minister said.
Alausa explained that about 80% of the unions’ demands are common across all tertiary institutions, while the remaining 20% are specific to particular sectors. The committee, inaugurated earlier in the week, has already begun intensive deliberations to accelerate agreement and implementation.
He highlighted progress made by the administration, including the payment of ₦50 billion in Earned Academic Allowance and the allocation of ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for needs assessment. This amount will be released in three tranches, with the first ₦50 billion already available.
“We recognise the importance of adequately compensating academic and non-academic staff, and we are committed to improving their welfare. While we cannot meet every demand at once, our actions demonstrate a sincere commitment to providing substantial support,” he said.
The minister also confirmed that promotion arrears, teaching allowances, wage awards, and other outstanding payments are being addressed, with all remaining obligations expected to be cleared by 2026.
He appealed to the unions for patience and urged them to avoid strikes as a first response, stressing that the government is operating in good faith and remains dedicated to sustainable and respectful engagement.
In a significant step, officials from the Ministry of Justice, including the Solicitor General of the Federation, are now directly involved in the negotiation process to ensure all agreements are legally sound and enforceable.
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