Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has announced the constitution of an Expanded Negotiation Committee to fast-track agreements with all unions in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, to avert a looming strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and keep students in school.
He highlighted the Federal Government’s N200 billion intervention effort, which includes N50 billion already released for earned academic allowances and N150 billion provided in the 2025 budget for university revitalisation projects, as clear evidence of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing the long-standing issues in the sector.
Alausa disclosed this during a meeting of the Technical Working Group in Abuja yesterday, where he reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that Nigerian students must remain in school while all outstanding issues with university unions are resolved through dialogue.
He added that the government’s actions demonstrated sincerity and readiness to meet its obligations, describing the intervention as part of a comprehensive effort to restore stability and mutual trust in the higher education system.
Alausa also revealed that the Federal Government had consolidated all separate negotiation platforms into a single, expanded negotiation committee, the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institution Expanded Negotiation Committee, to engage all tertiary institutions and their unions under a single, coordinated structure.
According to him, the Technical Working Group has been meeting to finalise the government’s counter-offer to ASUU, which would be transmitted to the expanded committee “by the end of today or tomorrow.”
The minister appealed to ASUU and other tertiary education unions to remain patient and maintain dialogue as the government addresses their long-standing concerns.
According to him, the government focuses on a holistic and affordable solution that recognises the sacrifices of lecturers and non-academic staff while ensuring fiscal responsibility.
Present at the Abuja meeting were representatives from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Budget Office, and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, as well as senior directors from the Ministry of Education.
MEANWHILE, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced that President Tinubu has approved the implementation of a N70 billion mini-grid solar power project under the 2025 intervention cycle to address erratic power supply in tertiary institutions.
The project will provide renewable and sustainable energy solutions to 12 institutions, including the Nigerian Army University, Biu; Northwest University, Kano; Ambrose Alli University, Edo State; Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Imo State, Lagos State University, among others.
Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Fund, Aminu Bello Masari, stated this in Abuja yesterday at the 2025 TETFund National Town Hall Meeting. Masari reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to building a transparent, inclusive, and innovation-driven tertiary education system in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Fund, Sunny Echono, commended President Tinubu for his unwavering support of the education sector and for approving strategic interventions that align with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
By : Owede Agbajileke, @TheGuardian
