The Federal Government has intensified negotiations with academic and non-academic staff unions in tertiary institutions, urging them to prioritize dialogue over industrial actions as talks on improved welfare packages near conclusion.
At a press briefing in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that students must remain in school while efforts continue to address long-standing labour issues in the sector.
“President Tinubu has made it clear: our children must remain in school,” Dr. Alausa said. “We appeal to all unions to embrace dialogue. This administration is sincere and determined to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing our tertiary institutions.”
He revealed that the government is finalizing a comprehensive counteroffer to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions. The offer will soon be reviewed by the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed-led Expanded Negotiation Committee, which brings together all stakeholders under a unified platform.
“This single negotiation structure ensures consistency, reduces duplication, and accommodates the fact that while 80 percent of union demands are similar, 20 percent are specific to individual institutions,” Alausa explained.
According to the Minister, the Federal Government Technical Working Group which includes representatives from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Budget Office, Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the Ministry of Justice has been meeting extensively to finalize the government’s position on revised conditions of service.
He highlighted some of the achievements already recorded, including, payment of Earned Academic Allowances, release of ₦50 billion for arrears and allowances, provision of ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for the Needs Assessment Fund (to be disbursed in three tranches of ₦50 billion), and resolution of issues surrounding promotion arrears and wage awards
For the first time, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and other officials from the Ministry of Justice are directly involved in the negotiations a move the Minister described as key to ensuring that any agreements reached are legally binding and enforceable.
“This marks a new era of accountability,” Alausa said. “Every agreement going forward will be transparent, sustainable, and rooted in law.”
Dr. Alausa commended the unions for their patience and urged continued cooperation. “This administration is not just about promises it is about concrete action. Let us keep working together for a stable, progressive education system.”
The Expanded Negotiation Committee is expected to finalize its harmonized report in the coming days, setting the stage for the signing of new agreements designed to ensure uninterrupted academic activities across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.