iDeemlawfulThe Federal Government has said it has met nearly all the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), describing the union’s recent strike as unwarranted.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the minister, his discussion with the President centred on the ongoing negotiations with ASUU and the government’s efforts to secure further concessions to avoid future disruptions.
“The President has mandated that there should be no strike in our public universities. We’re doing everything humanly possible to ensure students remain in school. The last six-day strike was really not needed,” Alausa said.
He noted that the government has “literally met” ASUU’s core demands and remains in active dialogue with union leaders to ensure lasting peace in the education system.
“We’ve met almost all their requirements. We are back at the negotiation table, and I spoke with the ASUU leadership this morning. This issue will be resolved soon,” he assured.
Dr. Alausa praised President Tinubu’s “fervent love for education and human capital development,” explaining that the administration’s ongoing economic and institutional reforms — including the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange unification, and tax reforms — are already stabilising the economy.
He also dismissed reports that the government prioritises ASUU over other tertiary institution unions, clarifying that all academic and non-academic groups now engage under a unified negotiation framework led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.
“Unlike before, where separate committees handled universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, we now have one negotiation committee that engages all unions collectively,” he said.
Reacting to claims of a four-week ultimatum issued by tertiary unions and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alausa denied its existence.
“There is no such ultimatum. I spoke to the ASUP President yesterday. Everything is calm, and this is a listening government committed to resolving all outstanding issues,” he stated.
The minister also revealed that the government has cleared arrears, paid earned academic allowances, and launched a federal tertiary institution governance and transparency dashboard to enhance accountability in university funding and operations.
He added that the platform provides public access to information on budget allocations, grants, and other financial details, reinforcing President Tinubu’s commitment to transparency and sustainable education growth.
“President Tinubu is deeply committed to education and human capital growth,” Alausa concluded.
