Federal government has announced plans to formally present a renegotiated agreement reached with Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), a move aimed at reducing frequent strikes in public universities.
Gatekeepers News reports that Boriowo Folasade, press director at the Ministry of Education, said the agreement will be unveiled on January 14 at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund headquarters in Abuja.
The event will be overseen by the minister of education, Tunji Alausa, alongside the minister of state for education, Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad.
According to the ministry, the new agreement is expected to promote stability in the university system, improve staff welfare, and create better teaching and learning conditions across federal universities.
The statement added, “The agreement underscores the federal government’s unwavering commitment to constructive engagement with critical stakeholders and the resolution of industrial issues through sustained dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation.”
“It is expected to further enhance industrial peace across Nigerian universities, create a more conducive academic environment, and reinforce confidence among students, staff, and the wider public.”
Officials of ASUU, heads of tertiary institutions, and other education stakeholders are expected to attend the ceremony.
Nigeria’s public universities have faced repeated shutdowns over the years due to disputes between ASUU and the government on funding, salaries, infrastructure decay, university autonomy, and lecturers’ welfare. These strikes have often disrupted academic calendars and extended students’ time in school.
The original agreement between qfederal government and ASUU was signed in 2009 to address the decline in public universities. However, implementation stalled over funding challenges and disagreements, leading to prolonged agitation by the union.
Over time, rising inflation and new policy issues made the 2009 agreement outdated, forcing both parties back to the negotiation table. The latest deal, concluded after talks that ended in 2025, is expected to resolve the long-standing disagreements and bring closure to the 16-year impasse.
