Cynthia Ezegwu
The Federal Government has reconstituted and inaugurated the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee to fast-track ongoing talks with academic and non-academic unions across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this in a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo.
Alausa said the new committee was designed to harmonise all negotiation processes under one coordinated framework that ensures inclusiveness and institutional continuity.
“Unlike previous fragmented negotiations, the expanded committee will engage all unions collectively to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable agreement,” he stated, adding that the membership cuts across the full spectrum of the tertiary education sector.
He further disclosed that the committee has been equipped with a functional secretariat to aid its work and that its inaugural meeting would hold on Tuesday, October 7.
The minister said President Bola Tinubu had given full political backing to the process with a directive for all negotiations to be concluded swiftly, fairly, and in the spirit of mutual respect.
“President Tinubu’s mandate is that all our children must be in school. This is renewed hope in action,” Alausa said, while commending the unions for their patience and cooperation.
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Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members to prepare for a two-week warning strike starting October 13.
In a bulletin to branches on Monday, ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, accused the government of failing to respond to the union’s demands despite a two-week ultimatum.
The issues include the signing and implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement and other unresolved commitments.