The Federal Government has refuted claims that it signed any agreements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), stating that the documents in question were only proposals.
Speaking to reporters in Abuja on Thursday, August 28, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa clarified that both the 2009 and 2011 documents, which ASUU often cites as binding, were never formally signed.
He emphasized that they were merely proposals presented during negotiations.
He, however, said President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains dedicated to resolving the ongoing issues with the university lecturers’ union.
“The documents ASUU has been referring to as agreements were just proposals that were never signed,” Alausa said.
The minister also dismissed reports that he scheduled a meeting with ASUU and the Minister of Labour and Employment, describing them as inaccurate.
Persecondnews recalls that ASUU’s demands include implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding of Nigerian universities, and revitalisation of the university system, payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears.
Others are stagnated promotions for over four years, unremitted third-party deductions, and victimisation of colleagues in some institutions.
The 2009 agreement signed under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration promised comprehensive reforms to Nigeria’s public universities, including sustained revitalisation funding, institutional autonomy, a negotiated salary and conditions package for academics, and a monitoring framework for implementation.
Its partial or non-implementation across successive administrations has led to recurring strikes.
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