The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has clarified his earlier remarks on agreements between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), acknowledging that a formal pact was indeed signed in 2009 and remains valid.
On Thursday in Abuja, the Education Minister had told journalists that no formal agreement existed between the Federal Government and ASUU, dismissing the union’s claims as nothing more than a draft. His position, however, was immediately challenged by ASUU, which maintained that the pact was valid.
By Friday, the ministry shifted its stance through a statement issued by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade. The release clarified that the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement is in fact the latest signed and legally binding document governing relations between both parties.
According to The Guardian Nigeria, it was revealed that “the ministry‘s efforts to update the pact have been made, including the establishment of a renegotiation committee in 2017 under the former Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu. It explained that the process produced the draft Nimi Briggs Agreement in May 2021, but the Federal Government insists the document was never signed.”
Titled ‘Clarification on minister’s statement regarding FGN-ASUU agreements’, it noted that “When the Honourable Minister stated that there had been ‘no new signed agreement’ with ASUU, he was referring specifically to the 2021 draft Nimi Briggs document, which has not been formally executed.
“The ministry, therefore, reaffirms that the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement remains the last formally signed agreement. The 2021 Nimi Briggs draft agreement was not signed, but it serves as the latest framework for discussions. The Federal Government remains committed to ending the 16-year stalemate with ASUU in a sustainable and constitutionally backed manner, ensuring our universities remain open for teaching and research”.
The ministry appealed to the public and stakeholders to disregard any confusion from the minister’s previous comments, stressing that the Federal Government is determined to resolve ASUU’s long-standing demands under the Renewed Hope Agenda while ensuring uninterrupted academic activities in the nation’s universities.
