The Federal Government has reconstituted the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Negotiation Committee to address disputes in tertiary institutions.
The move aims to unify talks with academic and non-academic unions and prevent fresh strikes.
The Federal Government has reconstituted and inaugurated the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee to speed up ongoing discussions with academic and non-academic unions across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the development in Abuja on Tuesday through a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo.
Alausa said the newly restructured committee was created to unify all negotiations under a single, coordinated framework that promotes fairness and inclusiveness across the entire tertiary education system.
“The membership of the committee has been carefully chosen to represent the full spectrum of the education sector, ensuring that no group is left behind,” he stated.
He explained that, unlike previous fragmented negotiations, the expanded committee would engage all unions collectively to reach a comprehensive and lasting agreement.
The minister disclosed that the committee had been provided with a fully equipped secretariat to support its work and that its inaugural meeting would hold by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7. He appealed to all academic and non-academic unions to cooperate fully and participate actively in the process.
Alausa noted that President Bola Tinubu had given complete political backing to the committee’s work, with clear instructions that all outstanding negotiations be concluded swiftly, fairly, and in the spirit of mutual respect.
“President Tinubu’s directive is clear, all our children must be in school. This is renewed hope in action,” the minister said, commending unions for their patience and commitment to dialogue.
In a bulletin sent to members on Monday, ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, urged branches to prepare for a two-week warning strike scheduled to begin on October 13, 2025. The decision follows a two-week ultimatum earlier issued to the government to address unresolved issues, including the signing and implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
Piwuna criticized the government’s slow response, saying there had been “no meaningful action” despite repeated efforts by the union to reach a compromise.
