The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has retracted his earlier remarks suggesting there was no binding agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), confirming instead that the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement remains valid.
In a statement released on Friday, Alausa clarified that the 2009 pact is the last officially signed and binding agreement with the union. This correction came after his Thursday briefing in Abuja, where he had dismissed ASUU’s claims, describing them as being based on drafts rather than formal agreements.
Following immediate pushback from ASUU, the Ministry of Education, through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, explained that both the 2009 and 2011 documents have long been referenced, but only the 2009 agreement was formally signed.
The ministry further noted that a renegotiation process was launched in 2017 under then Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, which later produced the draft Nimi Briggs Agreement in May 2021. However, the draft was never ratified or signed into law, making the 2009 agreement the only binding framework still in effect.
The clarification, titled “Clarification on Minister’s Statement Regarding FGN-ASUU Agreements,” stressed:
“When the Honourable Minister stated that there had been ‘no new signed agreement’ with ASUU, he was referring specifically to the 2021 draft Nimi Briggs document, which has not been formally executed. The Ministry therefore reaffirms that the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement remains the last formally signed agreement.”
The ministry added that the government remains committed to ending the 16-year impasse with ASUU, prioritizing the reopening and stability of Nigerian universities for effective teaching and research.
According to the 9am News report, the clarification is expected to ease rising tensions within the academic community, as both government and ASUU return to the negotiation table. Stakeholders say resolving the dispute sustainably is key to restoring stability in Nigeria’s higher education system.
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