Olayiwola Matthew
The federal government has finally signed a renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in a bid to curb recurring strikes in public tertiary institutions.
The agreement was formally unveiled at a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) in Abuja.
The signing ceremony was presided over by Tunji Alausa, minister of education, and Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, minister of state for education.
The new deal followed negotiations concluded in 2025 between a federal government committee and ASUU.
The agreement brings to a close a 16-year stalemate over the implementation of the disputed 2009 FG-ASUU agreement on lecturers’ conditions of service.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chris Piwuna, ASUU president, said the union was cautiously hopeful that the government would honour the agreement.
He said the union expects that implementation will not be delayed or tied to threats of industrial action.
“We are optimistic that the government will implement this agreement in totality, but pessimism still exists because of our history,” Piwuna said.
“It is our belief that Dr. Tunji Alausa will be different, and that our union will not need to issue a strike threat before any part of this agreement is implemented. As you always say, you are open and accessible; ASUU is also open and accessible,” he said.