The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has mentioned that there is no such thing as a binding settlement between the Federal Authorities and the Educational Workers Union of Universities (ASUU).
Talking in Abuja on Thursday whereas addressing journalists on the continuing ASUU protests throughout the nation, Alausa defined that opposite to public notion, the Federal Authorities had not signed any enforceable settlement with the union.
He described the present doc as a draft relatively than a binding accord.
The Minister reiterated that the Tinubu-led administration is targeted on sustainable and constitutionally backed options. Based on him, the federal government doesn’t need to enter into bogus or unsustainable agreements however is dedicated to discovering lasting measures that can guarantee uninterrupted studying.
He assured Nigerians that the protests by ASUU wouldn’t result in strike motion, stressing that the Federal Authorities has been partaking the union constantly.
“We’re dedicated to fixing this downside as soon as and for all. What has lingered because the 2009 and 2021 agreements will now be addressed in a sustainable manner.
The President has made it clear that each promise made to ASUU and Nigerians shall be fulfilled in truth and actually,” he mentioned.
Backstory
The standoff between ASUU and the Federal Authorities dates again to 2009, when each events reached an settlement protecting improved funding for universities, employees welfare, and infrastructure improvement. The union has repeatedly accused successive governments of failing to honour the deal, resulting in recurrent strikes which have disrupted tutorial calendars for years.
In 2022, ASUU launched into an eight-month strike one of many longest in Nigeria’s historical past to demand the implementation of the 2009 settlement and renegotiations to handle present realities. The extended shutdown crippled tutorial actions throughout public universities
Though negotiations led to short-term resolutions, the union has maintained that the majority of its calls for stay unmet, significantly on funding commitments and wage buildings.
The latest nationwide protests spotlight continued frustration, with ASUU warning that failure to resolve the problems might spark one other wave of business actions.
Excessive-level assembly with stakeholders
Alausa disclosed that the Ministry of Schooling held a high-level assembly on Wednesday, August 28, with related stakeholders to overview and harmonise ASUU’s proposals.
He famous that the session was attended by the Minister of State for Schooling, the Minister of Labour and Productiveness, and the Solicitor-Common of the Federation. Additionally current have been Everlasting Secretaries from the Ministries of Schooling, Labour, and Justice, in addition to leaders of key companies, together with the Nationwide Universities Fee (NUC), the Salaries and Wages Fee, and the Funds Workplace.
Based on the Minister, the assembly reviewed ASUU’s submissions intimately, and a technical staff is now engaged on producing a last model of the report.
He defined that the committee would ship a “clear report” to be forwarded to the Yayale Ahmed-led committee tasked with renegotiating the 2009 ASUU/FG settlement.
Enforceable agreements
Alausa pressured that future agreements with ASUU shall be sensible and legally sound.
“We would like an settlement the place each part is actionable and possible. Nigerians might be assured that this authorities will maintain our colleges open and guarantee our youngsters stay in lecture rooms,” he mentioned.
He additional added that, not like previously, the Ministry of Justice would now be instantly concerned within the course of to make sure that agreements adjust to constitutional provisions.
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