The federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have signed and unveiled a new agreement aimed at enhancing the quality of university education and promoting stability in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Conference Hall in Maitama, Abuja.
The event was attended by key stakeholders in the education sector, including the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad.
Speaking at the unveiling, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said the union was cautiously optimistic about the implementation of the agreement, acknowledging past challenges in government–union relations.
Prof. Piwuna said that while previous experiences have made the union wary, there is hope that the current administration will handle the agreement differently.
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“We are hopeful that this agreement will be fully implemented, although our past experiences naturally create some level of concern,” Prof. Piwuna said.
He expressed confidence in the leadership of the minister of education, noting that the ASUU expects a more proactive and transparent approach going forward.
“It is our expectation that this time around, implementation will not require threats of industrial action.
“We believe the minister will live up to his assurances of openness and accessibility, just as ASUU remains open and accessible,” he added.
The new agreement is expected to address longstanding issues affecting Nigeria’s university system and reduce the likelihood of industrial disputes between the government and academic staff of universities.
