Education Minister Admits 2009 FG-ASUU Agreement as Binding After Denial
Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has reversed his earlier claim that no binding agreement existed between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), confirming the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement as the only legally binding document.
As the Yayale Ahmed-led committee continues its work, Nigerians hope for a lasting resolution to the crisis that has cost public universities 37 months of closures since 2009. For now, the minister’s admission offers a step forward, but skepticism persists over the government’s commitment.
The clarification, issued on Friday, August 29, 2025, came barely 24 hours after the minister’s controversial statement dismissing the agreement, which sparked outrage from ASUU and fueled tensions over the government’s commitment to resolving the long-standing dispute. The 2009 agreement, signed under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, promised improved funding, staff welfare, and university autonomy but has remained largely unimplemented, leading to repeated strikes that have disrupted Nigeria’s public universities.
In a statement by the Ministry’s Director of Press, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, Dr. Alausa clarified that the 2009 agreement remains the most recent signed and binding document, admitting his earlier remarks referred specifically to the unsigned 2021 draft. The Tinubu administration, he noted, is committed to resolving the 16-year dispute through ongoing negotiations led by the Yayale Ahmed-led committee. A high-level meeting on Thursday reviewed ASUU’s proposals, with a technical team tasked to refine them for sustainable solutions. The minister’s about-face has eased some tensions but highlighted the deep mistrust between ASUU and the government.ASUU remains cautious, with Prof. Piwuna noting the minister’s earlier acknowledgment of the 2009 agreement in a meeting on August 11, only to contradict himself later. The union insists on concrete action to address poor funding and unpaid entitlements, warning that unfulfilled promises could disrupt universities again.
On Thursday, Dr. Alausa had claimed that documents cited by ASUU, including those from 2009 and 2011, were mere proposals, not signed agreements, and that the 2021 Nimi Briggs draft was also unsigned. This prompted a sharp rebuttal from ASUU’s President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, who insisted the 2009 agreement was formally signed and legally binding, with copies held by key government agencies. ASUU’s nationwide protests intensified, with the union’s Lagos Zone Coordinator, Prof. Adesola Nassir, decrying unpaid salaries and promotion arrears, while warning of a potential “mother of all strikes” if the government failed to act.
About The Author
