The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are set to formalise a new agreement on Wednesday, January 14, aimed at improving the quality of university education and ensuring stability in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Education on Sunday, the ceremony will hold at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Conference Hall in Maitama, Abuja, and will be presided over by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad.
The development comes after ASUU had issued a 14-day ultimatum, which was later suspended following overnight talks between the union and the Federal Government, averting the threatened strike.
The Ministry said the new agreement reflects the government’s commitment to constructive engagement with critical stakeholders, and to resolving industrial disputes through dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation.
Signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the agreement is the result of years of discussions between the FG and ASUU to address recurring industrial disputes in the higher education sector.
The Ministry noted that the accord aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which recognises education as a strategic driver of national development, human capital growth, and socio-economic transformation.
The agreement is expected to enhance industrial peace, create a more conducive academic environment, and reinforce confidence among students, university staff, and the broader public.
The unveiling ceremony will bring together senior government officials, ASUU representatives, heads of tertiary institutions, development partners, and members of the media.
The dispute between FG and ASUU has been a longstanding challenge, with recurrent disagreements over university funding, lecturers’ conditions of service, and the implementation of previous agreements, including unresolved terms from a pivotal 2009 accord.
ASUU has historically resorted to strikes to press for better funding for public universities, improved welfare for lecturers, and full implementation of prior agreements. The most recent nationwide industrial action occurred in October 2025, lasting two weeks.
Such strikes have frequently disrupted academic calendars, leading to lost study time, delayed graduations, and increased migration of students to private institutions or foreign universities.
