The Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, has promised that the Federal Government will ensure Nigerian children remain in school, despite concerns over a potential strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Alausa revealed this in an interview on the sidelines of the Gender Inclusion Summit organised by the Policy Innovation Centre. Alausa’s assurance comes amid ongoing talks between the government and ASUU over the non-implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, which includes sustainable funding of Nigerian universities, revitalisation of the university system, payment of outstanding 25–35 per cent salary arrears, stagnated promotions for over four years, unremitted third-party deductions, and victimisation of colleagues in some institutions.
The 2009 agreement was the last signed deal between the Federal Government and ASUU. Nevertheless, Alausa argued that, “I will tell you, we are engaging; I told you we will deal with ASUU and other trade unions with the highest level of mutual respect.
“We will continue to talk to them. I do not want to come on TV to start talking about private conversations with them, but what I can assure you is that ASUU will not go on strike; we will keep our children in school,” he said.
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