- FG Assures Students ASUU Protests Will Not Lead to Strike
- Tinubu directed the Ministry of Education to work closely with relevant agencies
- Alausa confirmed that progress has been made on some of ASUU’s key demands
The Federal Government has assured students and parents that the recent protests by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will not escalate into another round of strike action.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Minister of State for Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja after a high-level meeting with senior government officials to address ASUU’s demands.
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“This government does not want strikes,” Alausa stated. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu strongly believes that young people are the heartbeat of this nation, and he is determined to keep our children in school. We are committed to this task with sincerity, transparency, and respect for all parties.”
According to Alausa, President Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Education to work closely with relevant agencies to develop a sustainable, affordable, and constitutionally compliant agreement aimed at permanently resolving the long-standing issues with ASUU.
He further stressed that while the government is committed to meeting the union’s demands, it will not sign “unsustainable agreements” that could disrupt the education sector in the future.
“We are focused on reaching accords that are practical, implementable, and legally binding,” the minister added.
Alausa confirmed that progress has been made on some of ASUU’s key demands, including the payment and mainstreaming of earned academic allowances. He also revealed that the outstanding 35 percent wage arrears will be cleared once payments to other public servants commence.
To fast-track negotiations, a technical committee led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr Abel Enitan, has been set up to produce a revised draft agreement. The draft will be presented to the Yayale Ahmed-led negotiation committee, with the Ministry of Justice fully involved from the start to ensure all agreements are legally enforceable.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministries of Education, Labour, and Justice, as well as representatives from the National Universities Commission (NUC), TETFund, the Budget Office, and the Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
The Federal Government appealed to Nigerians for patience, assuring students and parents that the ongoing engagements with ASUU are aimed at reaching a long-lasting and sustainable solution to avoid future disruptions in the academic calendar.
