Federal Government pledges to end recurring strikes in tertiary institutions
Federal Government pledges to end recurring strikes in tertiary institutions
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has stated that the Federal Government is determined to end the recurring strikes in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions by fostering better engagement and honouring agreements with academic unions.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Tuesday, Alausa revealed that President Bola Tinubu has given a clear directive to avoid any further disruptions in higher education.
“The President has made it clear—never again in this country should ASUU or any other union in our tertiary institutions go on strike,” the minister said.
He stressed the importance of building stronger relationships with the unions and ensuring the government upholds its commitments with sincerity.
“There has to be a lot of relationship-building with ASUU, NASU, SANU, COEASU, everybody. And beyond that, the government demonstrating goodwill. Government meeting its obligations to these unions,” he said.
Alausa said previous administrations had failed to implement agreements reached with the unions.
“They sit, they agree, they go and say, tell us when you’re going to implement this. But over the years, government will just renege on those agreements. But that’s not what we’re doing now. We’re talking with them actively,” he said.
Responding to concerns raised by some lecturers over delayed salaries, Dr. Alausa clarified that the government has not stopped paying wages.
“We are paying salaries, and we’re doing so consistently. What happened is that after tertiary institutions were removed from IPPIS—which had been too restrictive—the President approved their transition to GIFMIS, giving them more control over their finances,” he explained.
He noted that government salary payments typically begin on the 25th of each month, with workers on IPPIS given first priority. “That’s why, over the past six months—although I’m not pleased with it—those on GIFMIS have sometimes received their salaries around the 8th or 9th of the following month,” he added.
