- No Binding Agreement Between FG, ASUU – Alausa
- Alausa revealed that ASUU’s proposals were reviewed line by line and would be refined by the committee’s technical team
- Alausa explained that the document often referred to as an agreement was only a draft and not legally binding
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has clarified that the Federal Government has no binding agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Eko Hot Blog reports
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday while addressing journalists on the ongoing ASUU protest, Alausa explained that the document often referred to as an agreement was only a draft and not legally binding.
EDITOR’S PICK
- Ex-Customs Comptroller-General Is Dead
- TikTok Star Peller Safe, Police Clarify After Abduction Scare
- NNPCL Boss, Ojulari Confirms Plot To Remove Him From Office
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised by the union, noting that President Bola Tinubu had directed the ministry to work out a lasting solution that would keep Nigerian students in school.
According to him, the administration is focused on reaching practical and constitutionally backed agreements, not “bogus or unsustainable deals.” He also stressed that the current protests by ASUU would not escalate into a strike since the government had been engaging the union “consistently and meticulously.”
“We are determined to resolve this issue once and for all. The matters arising from the 2009 and 2021 agreements will now be addressed in a sustainable way. The president has made it clear that every promise made to ASUU and Nigerians will be fulfilled truthfully and honestly,” he stated.
The minister disclosed that a high-level meeting was held on Thursday with relevant stakeholders to work towards a resolution.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Education, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, the Solicitor General of the Federation, Permanent Secretaries from key ministries, and heads of agencies including the National Universities Commission, the Salaries and Wages Commission, and the Budget Office.
He revealed that ASUU’s proposals were reviewed line by line and would be refined by the committee’s technical team before submission to the Yayale Ahmed-led panel tasked with renegotiating the 2009 ASUU-FG Agreement.
“We want an agreement where every component is realistic and enforceable. Nigerians can be assured that this administration will keep schools open and ensure our children remain in classrooms,” Alausa added.
He further emphasized that, unlike in the past, the Ministry of Justice would now play an active role in the negotiation process to guarantee that all agreements align with constitutional provisions.
