Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, has reversed his earlier position on the existence of a formal agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), now confirming that a legally binding agreement was indeed signed in 2009.
While addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the minister had claimed that there was no official agreement, alleging that ASUU was merely referring to a draft—a claim the union strongly refuted.
However, in a statement issued Friday by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the minister clarified that the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement remains the latest valid and signed document between both parties.
The ministry also noted that efforts have been made to revise the agreement, including the formation of a renegotiation committee in 2017 under then-Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu. This process led to the creation of the draft Nimi Briggs Agreement in May 2021, although the Federal Government maintains that it was never officially signed.
Titled ‘Clarification on minister’s statement regarding FGN-ASUU agreements’, it noted that “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 2021 Nimi Briggs draft agreement was not signed, but it serves as the latest framework for discussions. 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 urged stakeholders and the public to disregard any misinterpretation of the minister’s earlier remarks, assuring that the Federal Government remains committed to addressing ASUU’s demands under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
