The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Nigerian university students complete four-year degree programmes within the stipulated period, as part of efforts to address recurring strikes and disruptions to academic activities.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during the unveiling of the 2026 agreements between the Federal Government and staff unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Alausa said the agreements reflected President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that students graduate within the expected duration of their academic programmes.
He explained that the government was determined to end the longstanding cycle of industrial disputes caused by delays in implementing agreements with tertiary institution workers.
According to the minister, prolonged strikes have disrupted academic calendars, delayed graduation and increased the financial burden on students and their families.
He stressed that maintaining stable academic calendars was essential to improving educational standards and ensuring that students could complete their studies without unnecessary interruptions.
FG EXPANDS MONITORING COMMITTEE
To prevent future disagreements from escalating into industrial action, Alausa announced plans to expand the existing Implementation and Monitoring Committee established for the agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The committee will become a central platform for monitoring agreements involving academic and non-academic staff unions across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Its responsibilities will include tracking implementation progress, identifying challenges, resolving disputes and ensuring that agreed commitments are fulfilled within stipulated timelines.
The minister added that the government intended to make the committee a permanent structure to strengthen accountability and improve relations between the government and labour unions.
He urged union leaders to use the committee to resolve complaints through dialogue rather than resorting to public confrontations or threats of strikes.
Alausa also disclosed that the agreements would be reviewed every three years, allowing both parties to address emerging concerns and consider mutually agreed adjustments.
He maintained that the welfare of staff members remained important to the development of the education sector, noting that improved working conditions and professional support were essential to effective teaching and research.
NEW AGREEMENTS COVER STAFF ALLOWANCES
The agreements include the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance for members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union.
They also cover the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance for eligible non-academic staff across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The allowances are scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026, in line with the agreements and applicable implementation guidelines.
Alausa acknowledged that signing the agreements was only the beginning, stressing that their success would depend on the government’s ability to fulfil its commitments.
He urged government agencies, governing councils and institutional managements to cooperate with the monitoring committee and ensure proper implementation of the agreements.
UNIONS WELCOME PROGRESS BUT SEEK FULL IMPLEMENTATION
The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Shammah Kpanja, described the negotiation process as the fastest in the union’s history.
He said discussions began in December 2025 and resulted in the signing of the agreement in April 2026.
Kpanja disclosed that implementation had commenced, with members receiving outstanding arrears between July and September. However, he called on the government to ensure that all remaining provisions were fully implemented.
He also welcomed the proposed joint implementation committee, expressing hope that it would speed up the process before the end of the year.
Similarly, the President of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Lawal Bazza, said implementation of the agreement in the colleges of education subsector had exceeded 70 per cent.
Bazza expressed confidence that the expanded committee would help resolve outstanding issues and ensure that the remaining commitments were fulfilled.
The Chairman of the Federal Government Negotiation Team, Yayale Ahmed, also emphasised the importance of implementing the agreements, noting that successful negotiations would amount to little if the commitments were not honoured.
He further disclosed that discrepancies had been identified in some sections of the agreements and would be addressed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
The Federal Government’s latest commitment is aimed at preventing recurring industrial disputes and protecting students from prolonged academic disruptions. However, the effectiveness of the initiative will ultimately depend on the faithful implementation of the agreements and the ability of the monitoring committee to resolve disagreements before they lead to strikes.
