The Federal Government has denied signing any agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, saying what the lecturers have been parading is only a draft.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday when he spoke with newsmen on the ongoing ASUU protest across the country.
The Minister clarified that contrary to the impression by some Nigerians, the government had never signed any binding agreement with ASUU, describing the document as a draft.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to resolve issues raised by the union, saying President Bola Tinubu had mandated the ministry to find a lasting solution that would keep Nigerian children in school.
He emphasised that the administration was not interested in “bogus or unsustainable agreements” but in reaching an accord that was implementable and constitutionally backed.
He stressed that ASUU’s recent protests would not degenerate into a strike action as the government had engaged the union “continuously and meticulously”.
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Alausa said: “We are committed to solving this problem once and for all.
“What has lingered since the 2009 and 2021 agreements will now be addressed in a sustainable way.
“The President has made it clear that every promise made to ASUU and Nigerians will be fulfilled truthfully and honestly.”
Alausa also said that the ministry held a high level meeting with stakeholders on Thursday to find a lasting solution to the lingering problems.
He said the meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Education, Minister of Labour and Productivity, and Solicitor-General of the Federation.
Others in attendance were the Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of Education, Labour and Justice, as well as heads of key agencies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), Salaries and Wages Commission, and Budget Office.
The Minister added that the meeting reviewed ASUU proposals line by line, which would be fine-tuned by the committee technical team.
According to Alausa, the team would submit a “clean report” that would be forwarded to the Yayale Ahmed-led Committee to renegotiate the 2009 ASUU/FG Agreement.
He added: “We want an agreement where every component is actionable and feasible.
“Nigerians can be assured that this government will keep our schools open and ensure our children remain in classrooms.”
He added that unlike in the past, the Ministry of Justice would be fully involved in the process to ensure agreements comply with constitutional provisions.
