Nigeria’s minister of education has walked back his earlier remarks dismissing a long-standing agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), acknowledging that the 2009 Federal Government–ASUU Agreement remains the only valid and binding document to date.
Tunji Alausa had told reporters in Abuja on Thursday that the union’s demands were based only on drafts and proposals, insisting that no formal deal had ever been signed. His comments provoked immediate pushback from ASUU, which accused the government of misrepresenting history.
In a statement issued on Friday, the ministry clarified that the 2009 agreement is still in force and remains the basis for negotiations with the union. “When the Honourable Minister stated that there had been ‘no new signed agreement’ with ASUU, he was referring specifically to the 2021 draft Nimi Briggs document, which has not been formally executed,” the ministry explained.
The clarification further noted that while efforts to update the deal began in 2017, culminating in the Nimi Briggs draft of 2021, no subsequent pact has ever been signed. The government insisted it is committed to ending the 16-year deadlock with ASUU “in a sustainable and constitutionally backed manner.”
The education ministry urged the public to disregard “misinterpretations” of Alausa’s earlier remarks, stressing that keeping universities open for teaching and research remains the Tinubu administration’s priority.
