Breaking News: Federal Government Forms Expanded Negotiation Committee To Avert ASUU Nationwide Strike
By Odunuga Yusuf
In a proactive effort to prevent a nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the federal government has established an Expanded Negotiation Committee to expedite discussions with all unions representing Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
This announcement follows ASUU’s recent declaration of mobilizing its members across universities to engage in industrial action. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, shared details of the initiative during a Technical Working Group meeting in Abuja, a statement reported by Legit.ng on Wednesday, October 8.
Dr. Alausa emphasized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that students must remain in school while all outstanding disputes with university unions are resolved through dialogue. “The President has tasked us with ensuring that our children stay in school. We must do everything possible to avert a strike,” he stated.
Government’s Commitment to Education Sector
In his address, Dr. Alausa highlighted the federal government’s commitment of ₦200 billion dedicated to revitalizing the tertiary education sector. This includes ₦50 billion already disbursed for earned academic allowances and an additional ₦150 billion earmarked in the 2025 budget for university enhancement projects.
“The earned academic allowance has been paid; the President released ₦50 billion months ago. Additionally, the long-awaited needs assessment for tertiary institutions, which has been overdue for nearly 15 years, has been allocated ₦150 billion in next year’s budget,” he explained. The funds will be released in three tranches of ₦50 billion each, with the initial payments already in place, showcasing the Tinubu administration’s commitment to addressing educational needs.
Unified Negotiation Structure Established
To streamline negotiations, Dr. Alausa revealed the establishment of a single, coordinated negotiation platform named the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Tertiary Institution Expanded Negotiation Committee. “Previously, we had three separate committees for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, which was inefficient. Now, we have one committee to address the needs of all tertiary institutions and their unions,” he stated.
The Technical Working Group is currently finalizing a government counter-offer to ASUU, which is expected to be presented to the expanded committee shortly.
Call for Patience and Dialogue
Dr. Alausa appealed to ASUU and other educational unions for patience and continued dialogue, urging them not to resort to strikes as a first option. “We recognize that these issues have built up over decades, but this President is deeply committed to education and is determined to resolve these challenges comprehensively,” he pleaded.
He noted several achievements under the current administration, including addressing promotion arrears and payments of teaching and responsibility allowances. “By next year, we anticipate settling all outstanding arrears. We are demonstrating our commitment to resolving this crisis holistically,” he assured.
ASUU’s Strike Ultimatum
Despite the government’s efforts, ASUU has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government following a national executive council meeting on September 28 at the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), indicating their preparedness to initiate strike actions should negotiations not meet their demands.
The federal government’s latest initiatives underscore its earnest intent to foster a collaborative atmosphere and ensure the stability of Nigeria’s educational landscape.
