The Federal Government has linked its latest agreements with tertiary institution workers to President Bola Tinubu’s campaign commitments, with Education Minister Tunji Alausa claiming that the administration has fulfilled 90 per cent of its promises and deserves a second term.
Alausa made the assertion at the unveiling of a new agreement for non-academic staff in tertiary institutions, arguing that the government’s handling of longstanding labour disputes should feature prominently in assessments of Tinubu’s performance ahead of the 2027 general election.
The minister said the President’s intervention had helped the government reach agreements with academic and non-academic unions after years of disagreements that repeatedly disrupted university activities and prolonged students’ academic programmes.
He urged Nigerians to evaluate the administration on the basis of its record, accusing opposition figures of spreading misinformation about its achievements.
According to Alausa, the newly concluded agreements represent an opportunity to improve staff welfare, reduce industrial disputes and provide greater stability in the academic calendar.
He commended the unions for participating in negotiations and said the government would honour its commitments under the agreements.
However, he stressed that effective implementation would depend on the cooperation of relevant government agencies, institutional governing councils and managements.
Addressing union leaders, Alausa urged them to use established channels for resolving disagreements rather than resorting prematurely to public threats of industrial action.
“You have a President who has your back. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has your back,” he said, encouraging union representatives to engage the government whenever concerns arise.
The minister disclosed that the Federal Government had decided to expand the existing Implementation and Monitoring Committee for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to cover agreements with academic and non-academic unions across tertiary institutions.
He said the expanded committee would monitor implementation, identify emerging problems and facilitate early intervention before disputes escalate into industrial action.
According to him, the government also intends to make the committee permanent to strengthen accountability and sustain industrial harmony in the education sector.
Alausa added that the agreement provides for renegotiation every three years, allowing both parties to review emerging issues and address workers’ concerns through dialogue.
He nevertheless urged union leaders to take the country’s financial capacity into account when making demands, noting that sustainable agreements must balance staff welfare with available resources.
The minister said stable industrial relations were necessary for educational development, as recurring strikes undermine institutional planning, research activities and students’ ability to complete their programmes on schedule.
He praised Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed, chairman of the Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee, and other members of the committee, alongside the ministries, departments, agencies and technical teams involved in the negotiations.
Alausa maintained that the government’s objective was to translate the agreements into better working conditions and uninterrupted academic activities.
“A four-year programme must be a four-year programme. A promise made is a promise kept,” he said.
