The Federal Government has reconstituted and inaugurated the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee to fast-track ongoing talks with academic and non-academic unions in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
In a statement issued on Tuesday morning by Folasade Boriowo, spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the new committee would harmonise all negotiations under one coordinated framework that promotes institutional memory and inclusiveness across the tertiary education sector.
Dr. Alausa explained that, unlike the previously fragmented negotiations, the expanded committee would engage all unions collectively to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable agreement.
“The membership of the committee has been carefully chosen to represent the full spectrum of the education sector, ensuring that no group is left behind,” he said.
He revealed that the committee now has a functional and well-equipped secretariat to effectively carry out its mandate, with its inaugural meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7.
Alausa also urged all academic and non-academic unions to cooperate and respond promptly to the committee’s engagements, assuring that the government was committed to ending the cycle of strikes and disruptions in tertiary institutions.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given full political backing to the process, directing that all negotiations be concluded “swiftly, fairly, and in the spirit of mutual respect.”
“President Tinubu’s mandate is that all our children must be in school. This is renewed hope in action,” Alausa emphasised, appreciating the unions for their patience and commitment as the government works toward a final and comprehensive agreement.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged its members to prepare for a two-week warning strike scheduled to commence on October 13, following the expiration of its ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
In a memo sent to branches on Monday, ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, lamented that the government had yet to make any meaningful response to the union’s demands despite several reminders and meetings.
“The government’s silence reflects a lack of seriousness toward resolving long-standing issues affecting Nigerian universities,” Piwuna stated.
As tension rises, education stakeholders are hopeful that the reconstituted negotiation committee will prevent another nationwide disruption in the tertiary education calendar.
