FG CLARIFIES MINISTER COMMENT ON FGN–ASUU AGREEMENT

FG CLARIFIES MINISTER COMMENT ON FGN–ASUU AGREEMENT

The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified remarks made by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, regarding agreements between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

In a statement released on Friday, August 29, 2025, the Ministry noted that the last binding agreement between FGN and ASUU was signed in 2009. It explained that while a renegotiation process was initiated in 2017 by the then Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, which later produced the draft Nimi Briggs Agreement in May 2021, the draft document was never signed by the Federal Government.

The Ministry emphasized that Dr. Alausa’s comment on August 28 — that there has been “no new signed agreement” with ASUU — specifically referred to the 2021 Nimi Briggs draft, which does not have official binding status.

Reaffirming the government’s stance, the Ministry stated that:

The 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement remains the last signed and binding agreement.

The 2021 Nimi Briggs draft agreement was not signed but currently serves as the latest framework for dialogue.

The statement further assured stakeholders that the Federal Government remains committed to finding a lasting and constitutionally backed resolution to the 16-year impasse with ASUU in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Ministry therefore urged the public to disregard any misinterpretations of the Minister’s comments, adding that efforts to ensure Nigerian universities remain open for teaching and research are ongoing.