FG begins final phase of negotiations with ASUU

The Federal Government says it has commenced the last signifier of negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and different tertiary acquisition unions.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this successful Abuja connected Wednesday, during a gathering of the Technical Working Group connected Conditions of Service of ASUU.

Alausa expressed optimism that outstanding issues would soon beryllium resolved to forestall further concern action.

He said the radical was finalising a counteroffer to beryllium presented to the unions done the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee.

According to him, the committee’s enactment aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that each efforts indispensable beryllium made to support Nigerian students successful schoolhouse and debar disruptions to the world calendar.

”The President has made it wide that our children indispensable stay successful school. The method moving radical is moving to finalise a constituent of the information of work that has to beryllium proposed. They are moving to finalise a counteroffer to them.

“Hopefully by the extremity of today, oregon latest tomorrow, the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expected Negotiations Committee volition person that counteroffer to ASUU.”

The curate noted that astir 80 per cent of the unions’ demands were akin crossed tertiary institutions, with the remaining 20 per cent reflecting sector-specific concerns.

He said that the committee, inaugurated earlier successful the week, had begun intensive deliberations to fast-track statement and implementation timelines.

He added that this contiguous medication had made important advancement already with the outgo of the Earned Academic Allowance of ₦50 cardinal released by Tinubu.

”In addition, N150 cardinal was included successful the 2025 fund for needs assessment, and this volition beryllium released successful 3 tranches, with the archetypal N50 cardinal ready.

“They (lecturers) merit to beryllium paid truthful overmuch and our world and non-academic staff. But then, we can’t springiness you everything you privation astatine the aforesaid time.

“But it’s the gesture, our benevolence, committedness to astatine slightest get important benefits and fiscal reward to you.

“This authorities is doing different things to amended your welfare. At this point, we’ve addressed respective of the issues that we’ve brought up,” helium said.

Alausa besides confirmed that promotion arrears and different outstanding allowances, including teaching and wage awards, had been addressed, portion each remaining areas would beryllium cleared by 2026.

Reiterating the government’s committedness to communal respect and sustainable solutions, helium appealed to world and non-academic unions to workout patience and debar strikes arsenic a archetypal resort.

“We person resolved a batch of these issues. But we cognize the last portion is the information of service. We volition resoluteness that arsenic well.

“So we are pleading with the unions, some world and non-academic and tertiary institutions to beryllium patient. This authorities is sincere and we are truthful.

“We person shown you this implicit the past 24 months plus, that the medication of President Bola Tinubu came connected board. So delight carnivore with america and beryllium patient,” Alausa said.

He added that, for the archetypal time, the Solicitor General of the Federation and officials of the Ministry of Justice were straight progressive successful the dialog process.

This move, helium said, was aimed astatine ensuring ineligible soundness and enforceability of each agreements reached.(NAN)

The station FG begins last signifier of negotiations with ASUU appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.