By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa has urged unions in tertiary institutions to prioritize dialogue over strikes when resolving grievances.
He warned that industrial disputes disrupt academic schedules and rob students of crucial learning time.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja during the unveiling of renegotiated Federal Government–union agreements, Alausa emphasized the need for harmonious industrial relations, as reported by PerSecondNews.
“Don’t go to the press first. It causes tension in your society. Whatever grievances you have, bring them to this committee. We’ve created a channel to resolve your grievances,” Alausa said.
He recalled that prolonged strikes had disrupted academic calendars in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, leaving students to lose months or years while families faced additional costs and uncertainty.
According to Alausa, the federal government plans to expand the existing Implementation and Monitoring Committee (IMC), which oversees the agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to monitor agreements with academic and non-academic unions across tertiary institutions.
“Strike should not be your first action. We must learn to resolve issues through dialogue and use the channels we have established,” Alausa emphasized.
The minister said the agreements included a three-year review mechanism and highlighted the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA), which took effect in January 2026.
“These allowances took effect from January 2026, and today I can report that both CATA and CONTTA have been paid to eligible personnel in our tertiary institutions.”
He urged unions to consider the country’s financial capacity when making demands, stressing that staff welfare, adequate resources and a conducive working environment were essential for effective teaching and research.
“A four-year programme must be a four-year programme. A promise made, a promise kept,” Alausa said, crediting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration with prioritising education and pledging to implement the agreements.
Earlier, Chairman of the Federal Government Negotiation Team, Yayale Ahmed, urged unions not to take Tinubu’s commitment to education for granted, warning that industrial action could derail implementation.
“The most important thing is for us to have a seamless agreement collectively, and that the government is not only willing but comfortable with ensuring implementation to the letter,” Ahmed noted.
Ahmed attributed the outcome to mutual respect, collective bargaining and concessions, urging both parties to balance workers’ interests with the government’s position.
“Negotiations require give-and-take, and union leaders must defend their members’ interests while also considering the government’s position,” he said.
Representing Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Abel Enitan, Dr. Isha Kumosa Mohammed, Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, called for accountability and continuous consultation to ensure effective implementation.
“This occasion represents an important milestone in our collective pursuit of constructive engagement, mutual understanding and harmonious relations within Nigeria’s tertiary education system,” Enitan stated.
According to him, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation would expedite matters concerning service policies and establishment issues to support implementation.
Also speaking, Muhammad Ibrahim, National President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), commended the negotiation team for building trust and praised Alausa for engaging union leaders before becoming minister.
“The calibre of the Federal Government Negotiation Team and its committee members gave us hope that we would achieve our objectives, and today, we are celebrating that achievement,” Ibrahim noted.
Ibrahim said recent salary payments had excited university workers but urged the government to implement every provision of the renegotiated agreements.
“Some agreements we signed before came with payments, but the other provisions were abandoned. I believe this time, the remaining commitments will also be implemented,” he added.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, said his recent meeting with ASUU reflected a change in the union’s response to the government’s handling of its commitments.
“I had a very fruitful meeting with ASUU on Sunday, and for the first time, our discussions did not get to the point of begging them not to embark on strikes.”
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