Alausa says 2009 MoU remains FG’s only binding agreement with ASUU

Tunji Alausa, education minister, says the most recent signed and binding agreement between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) remains the 2009 agreement.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by Folasade Boriowo, the ministry’s director of press.

Boriowo explained that the minister’s remark during an interaction with journalists on Thursday had been misinterpreted, hence the need to set the record straight.

She said that. in 2017, Adamu Adamu, the then minister of education, inaugurated a renegotiation committee to review the 2009 agreement.

The process led to the drafting of the Nimi Briggs agreement in May 2021.

“However, it is important to stress that this 2021 draft agreement was not signed by the federal government,” she added.

“When the minister stated yesterday that there had been no new signed agreement with ASUU, he was referring specifically to the 2021 draft Nimi Briggs document, which has not been formally executed.

“The ministry therefore reaffirms that the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement remains the last formally signed agreement.

“The 2021 Nimi Briggs draft agreement was not signed but serves as the latest framework for discussions.”

Boriowo said the federal government remains committed to sustainably ending the 16-year impasse with ASUU, ensuring universities remain open for teaching and research.

“The ministry of education urges the public and all stakeholders to disregard any misinterpretations and to note that the federal government’s commitment to resolving issues with ASUU remains firm,” she said.

ASUU has been at loggerhead with the federal government, threatening a strike and seeking the renegotiation of the 2009 MoU.