- Tinubu Rebuilt Trust Between Government, University Unions, Says Alausa
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The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has credited President Bola Tinubu’s leadership for restoring stability across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, saying the administration’s approach of dialogue, trust and realistic agreements has rebuilt confidence between the Federal Government and university unions, Eko Hot Blog reports.
Speaking during an interview at the weekend, Alausa said the renewed industrial peace being enjoyed across the higher education sector was a result of the President’s commitment to engaging academic and non academic unions with sincerity while implementing agreements that are affordable and sustainable.
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According to the minister, President Tinubu fulfilled his promise to pay 50 per cent of the withheld salaries inherited from previous disputes within months of assuming office, a move he said restored trust between the government and university unions.
He added that the administration also approved a salary increase of nearly 40 per cent for workers in tertiary institutions as part of efforts to improve staff welfare while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Alausa said the renewed atmosphere of stability is already producing measurable results, pointing to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, which recorded an increase in the number of Nigerian universities recognised globally from 21 to 24.
He noted that public universities also reclaimed the top positions nationally for the first time in many years, describing the development as evidence that the Federal Government’s reforms are yielding positive outcomes.
The minister also reaffirmed that education remains central to President Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion Nigerian economy through sustained investments in human capital development, skills acquisition and tertiary education reforms.
He said the Federal Government is repositioning the education sector to produce a globally competitive workforce capable of meeting Nigeria’s development needs while supplying highly skilled professionals to Africa and the international labour market.
“We want to be the manpower supplier of the world. We need to produce competent, skilled and educated young Nigerians who will drive our economy, contribute to Africa’s growth and compete successfully across the world,” he said.
Alausa disclosed that annual enrolment into nursing schools has increased from about 20,000 before the current administration assumed office to approximately 50,000, while admissions into medicine, pharmacy and dentistry have also been significantly expanded to address shortages in the health sector.
He expressed confidence that the reforms would eliminate the shortage of healthcare professionals within the next few years as more graduates enter the workforce.
The minister also assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was designed on a sustainable financing model capable of supporting students for generations.
According to him, President Tinubu has consistently directed ministers and heads of government agencies to ensure that major reforms introduced by the administration are designed to outlive the current government.
“There is no value in introducing policies that cannot stand the test of time. Sustainability is central to this administration’s philosophy, and that principle guided the design of NELFUND,” he said.
Alausa reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Education to expanding access to quality education, strengthening human capital development and implementing reforms that will prepare Nigerian youths to compete successfully in the global economy.
He stressed that under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, education would remain the foundation for sustainable economic growth, national development and shared prosperity.
