The federal government will on January 14 unveil a renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), a move aimed at ending recurring strikes in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions.

 

Boriowo Folasade, press director at the Federal Ministry of Education, announced on Sunday that the official unveiling ceremony for the signed agreement will take place at 11:00 am at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) headquarters in Abuja.

 

According to Boriowo, the event will be presided over by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad. Senior government officials, ASUU leadership, heads of tertiary institutions, and development partners are expected to attend.

 

She said the agreement is designed to promote industrial harmony, improve teaching and learning conditions, and support sustainable development within Nigeria’s university system.

 

“The agreement underscores the federal government’s unwavering commitment to constructive engagement with critical stakeholders and the resolution of industrial issues through sustained dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation,” the statement read.

“It is expected to further enhance industrial peace across Nigerian universities, create a more conducive academic environment, and reinforce confidence among students, staff, and the wider public.”

 

Nigeria’s public universities have, for years, been disrupted by prolonged strikes led by ASUU over issues including inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, staff welfare, and disagreements over lecturers’ payment platforms.

 

A major agreement was first signed between ASUU and the federal government in 2009 following negotiations aimed at reversing the decline in the public university system. However, full implementation of the pact stalled due to government-cited financial constraints and disputes over university autonomy.

 

Over time, the 2009 agreement became outdated as inflation, policy changes, and new areas of contention emerged, necessitating a comprehensive renegotiation.

 

The new agreement to be unveiled on January 14 is the product of intensive negotiations concluded in 2025 between ASUU and a federal government committee. It is expected to effectively end the 16-year stalemate surrounding the implementation of the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement on the conditions of service of public tertiary institution lecturers.