FG, ASUU Disagree Over 2021 Agreement

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday reignited their long-running dispute, this time over whether a 2021 agreement between both parties ever existed.

Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, told journalists in Abuja that contrary to ASUU’s claims, the government never signed any binding pact with the union. According to him, what ASUU often refers to as an “agreement” were only draft proposals discussed during negotiations.

“The 2021 agreement was not executed by the government. ASUU might have the impression that there is an agreement, but there was no signed document,” Alausa stated, while stressing that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was determined to reach a “clean, actionable and constitutional” deal with lecturers.

He added that a seven-member high-level technical committee, including representatives from the Ministries of Education, Justice, Labour, the Budget Office, NUC, TETFund, and the Salary and Wages Commission, has been set up to harmonise the government’s counter-proposal before fresh talks with ASUU.

The Tinubu administration had earlier released ₦50 billion this year to settle outstanding earned allowances for university staff, but lecturers have continued to push for improved salaries, better funding, university autonomy, and a review of laws governing the NUC and JAMB.

Reacting, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, faulted the minister’s remarks, accusing government of poor record-keeping.

“The government is very poor at keeping records. Sometimes you wonder if there is proper handover from one officer to another,” Piwuna told The PUNCH.

The latest exchange signals yet another chapter in the government–ASUU saga, with university staff awaiting clarity on whether negotiations this time will produce a lasting solution.