FG, ASUU SIGN NEW AGREEMENT TO END STRIKES, STABILISE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have signed and unveiled a new agreement aimed at improving the quality of Nigeria’s university education system and ensuring long-term industrial stability.
The agreement, which replaces the long-standing 2009 ASUU–FG pact, was formally signed on Wednesday at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Conference Hall in Maitama, Abuja.
The signing ceremony was attended by key stakeholders in the education sector, including the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, and senior government officials.
Speaking at the event, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said the union was cautiously optimistic about the new agreement, despite past experiences of unfulfilled commitments by successive administrations.
According to him, ASUU hopes the Federal Government will fully implement the agreement without the union having to resort to threats of industrial action.
“We are optimistic that the government will implement this agreement in totality, but pessimism still exists because of our history,” Piwuna said.
“It is our belief that Dr. Tunji Alausa will be different, and that ASUU will not need to issue a strike threat before any part of this agreement is implemented.”
He added that ASUU remains open to dialogue and constructive engagement in the interest of students and the education system.
In his remarks, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the new agreement as a decisive turning point in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
He said the pact reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to quality education, improved learning conditions, and an uninterrupted academic calendar in public universities.
“This occasion represents far more than the presentation of a document,” Alausa said.
“It symbolises renewed trust, restored confidence, and a decisive turning point in the history of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.”
The minister noted that the administration is determined to address longstanding grievances in the university system and prevent disruptions that have repeatedly affected students’ academic progress.
He assured stakeholders that the Federal Government would prioritise faithful implementation of the agreement to promote stability, staff welfare, and institutional growth across Nigeria’s universities.
The new pact is expected to usher in a more predictable academic calendar and reduce the frequency of strikes that have plagued public universities for over a decade.