By Peter Omopo
The Federal Government has confirmed that the 2009 agreement between it and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) remains valid, following a clarification issued by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
Alausa, who had on Thursday told reporters in Abuja that no binding agreement existed with ASUU, admitted on Friday that the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement remains the last formally signed pact. His earlier claim that the union was relying on an unsigned draft had drawn swift criticism from ASUU.
In the statement, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the minister explained that his initial remarks were in reference to the 2021 draft Nimi Briggs document, which was never formally executed.
“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. The Ministry therefore reaffirms that the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement remains the last formally signed agreement,” the statement read.
The government added that while attempts to review the agreement began in 2017 under then Education Minister Adamu Adamu, the process only produced the 2021 draft, which serves as a framework for further negotiations but does not replace the 2009 pact.
The ministry reiterated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to resolving long-standing issues with ASUU “in a sustainable and constitutionally backed manner,” while ensuring universities remain open for teaching and research.
It also urged the public to disregard misinterpretations of the minister’s earlier remarks, assuring stakeholders that dialogue with the lecturers’ union would continue in pursuit of lasting peace in the tertiary education sector.
