Abuja: The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced that there is no binding agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Alausa made this statement in Abuja while responding to questions from journalists regarding the ongoing ASUU protests across the country.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the minister clarified that contrary to some public perceptions, the government had not signed any binding agreement with ASUU, referring to the document as a draft. He emphasized the government’s commitment to resolving the issues raised by the union, noting that President Bola Tinubu had instructed the ministry to seek a lasting solution to keep Nigerian children in school.

Alausa further explained that the administration was not interested in ‘bogus or unsustainable agreements’ but in forging an accord that was actionable and constitutionally grounded. He assured that ASUU’s recent protests would not escalate into a strike, as the government had been engaging with the union ‘continuously and meticulously.’

He stated, “We are committed to solving this problem once and for all. What has lingered since 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.”

Alausa also mentioned that the ministry convened a high-level meeting with stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the ongoing issues. The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Education, Minister of Labour and Productivity, and Solicitor-General of the Federation, alongside Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Education, Labour, and Justice, as well as heads of key agencies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), Salaries and Wages Commission, and the Budget Office.

He noted that the meeting involved a detailed review of ASUU’s proposals, which would be refined by the committee’s technical team. The team is expected to submit a ‘clean report’ to the Yayale Ahmed-led Committee responsible for renegotiating the 2009 ASUU/FG Agreement.

Alausa concluded by expressing the government’s intention to establish an agreement where every component is actionable and feasible, assuring Nigerians that the government would keep schools open and ensure students remain in classrooms. He also highlighted that the Ministry of Justice would be fully involved in the process to ensure agreements are in line with constitutional provisions.