FG dismisses claims of fresh ASUU agreement, reaffirms 2009 pact

By Kunle Sanni –

The Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed that the 2009 Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)–Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Agreement remains the last formally signed and binding document between both parties.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, issued the clarification on Thursday following reports that misinterpreted his remarks during a media interaction.

According to the ministry, a renegotiation committee was inaugurated in 2017 by then Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to review the 2009 agreement. This effort produced a draft document, widely referred to as the Nimi Briggs Agreement, in May 2021.

The ministry, however, stressed that the 2021 draft was never signed by the Federal Government. “When the 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 statement explained.

It further noted that while the draft serves as the most recent framework for negotiations, the government remains committed to resolving outstanding issues with ASUU in a sustainable and constitutionally backed manner, to ensure Nigerian universities remain open for teaching and research.

The ministry also urged the public to disregard any misinterpretations and assured that the Federal Government’s commitment to ending the 16-year impasse with ASUU remains firm under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The statement was signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education.