The Federal Government says it is nearing a final agreement with ASUU and other tertiary unions.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa assured that pending issues will soon be resolved to prevent future strikes.
The Federal Government has entered the final stage of negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary education unions in an effort to permanently resolve long-standing disputes and prevent future strikes.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting of the Technical Working Group on the Conditions of Service for ASUU members. He expressed optimism that all pending issues would soon be resolved, noting that the government’s focus is on keeping students in school and maintaining a stable academic calendar.
Alausa explained that the working group was finalizing a counteroffer to be submitted to the unions through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiation Committee. “The President has made it clear that our children must remain in school,” he said. “The group is completing its proposal, and by the end of today or tomorrow, the committee will receive the counteroffer for ASUU.”
He revealed that about 80 per cent of the unions’ demands were similar across institutions, while the remaining 20 per cent were specific to different sectors. According to him, the administration has made notable progress, including the payment of N50 billion in Earned Academic Allowances recently approved by President Bola Tinubu.
The minister also disclosed that an additional N150 billion has been earmarked in the 2025 national budget for the needs assessment of public universities. The funds, he said, will be released in three phases, with the first N50 billion already set for disbursement.
Alausa added that promotion arrears, teaching allowances, and wage awards had been addressed, assuring that any outstanding issues would be cleared by 2026. “We cannot meet every demand at once,” he noted, “but this administration is committed to improving staff welfare and ensuring lasting peace in the education sector.”
He urged ASUU and other unions to show patience and avoid resorting to strikes, stressing that the government’s approach is based on sincerity and mutual respect. “We have resolved most of these issues, and we will conclude the conditions of service soon,” he said. “This administration is transparent and genuinely committed to your welfare.”
Alausa also confirmed that, for the first time, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and officials from the Ministry of Justice are directly involved in the negotiations to ensure that all agreements reached are legally binding and enforceable.
The minister concluded by assuring university staff that the government values their contributions and is determined to build a sustainable framework that protects both workers’ rights and the academic future of Nigerian students.
