The Federal Government has clarified its position on agreements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), stating that the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement remains the only formally signed and binding document.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this known in a statement issued by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
According to the Minister, the draft agreement produced by the Nimi Briggs Committee in 2021 was never signed by the Federal Government and, therefore, remains only a framework for further discussions.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the FGN-ASUU Agreement was last signed in 2009. That agreement remains the most recent signed and binding agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU,” the statement read.
It recalled that in 2017, then Education Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu, inaugurated a renegotiation committee to review the 2009 agreement, leading to the draft Nimi Briggs document in May 2021. However, the government emphasised that the draft was not formally adopted.
The Ministry, therefore, reaffirmed that the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement remains the last binding accord with the union, while the 2021 draft serves as a reference framework.
“The Federal Government remains committed to ending the 16-year stalemate with ASUU in a sustainable and constitutionally backed manner, ensuring our universities remain open for teaching and research,” the statement added.
However, the government position on ASUU has been condemned by many Nigerians stressing that government is deliberate in pauperizing lecturers in higher institution.
On X, Father K, said, “Is it fair that what you paid someone in 2009, that is the same salary scale you are using in 2025 after the whole inflation? FG should give this an urgent attention.”
Also, Abdallah urged the government to consider Yayale Ahmed committee on the impasse saying, “The Yayale Ahmed committee’s report deserve a mention at least. It was inaugurated by this administration, all eyes on FG to see if they will honor the agreements.”
