Tinubu directed us to ensure tertiary institutions never go on strike again, says Tunji Alausa

Tunji Alausa, minister of education, says the federal government is determined to end recurring strikes in tertiary institutions.

Speaking on Tuesday during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Alausa said President Bola Tinubu has directed that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other bodies in tertiary institutions across the country should not embark on strike.

His comments came shortly after the Yobe State University branch of ASUU called off its strike, which began on July 11.

The education minister said past administrations often reneged on agreements reached with union leaders, despite holding cordial meetings with them.

“This is what the president has mandated us to do. The president has directed that never again in this country will ASUU, or tertiary institution trade unions, go on strike,” he said.

“Because promises alone are not enough, there has to be a lot of relationship-building with ASUU, NASU, SSANU, COEASU — everybody.

“Beyond that, the government must demonstrate goodwill by meeting its obligations to these unions. That is what has been lacking in past governments.

“They would sit with the unions, agree on terms, and then ask, ‘Tell us when you’re going to implement this.’ But over the years, the government would simply renege on those agreements.

“That is not what we are doing now. We are engaging them actively. All the presidents of the unions — most of them —  can call me directly.

“They have my number, and I have theirs. We are constantly communicating. Even when people spread fake news about ASUU going on strike, which they never intended, we clarify immediately. We have not met all their requests yet, but we are working assiduously to fulfil them.”

Alausa also said lecturers’ salaries remain regular, explaining that delays stem from migration to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) after exiting the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

“We’re paying salaries. We’re paying salaries regularly. What just happened is that after the tertiary institutions went off IPPIS, which was very restrictive to them, the president graciously agreed to that. They are now on GIFMIS so that they have better control of their funds,” he said.

“The way government pays salaries, they start from the 25th of the month. They pay people on IPPIS as first-line priority.

“And that’s why what happened in the last six months is — where I’m not happy about it — they’ve been paid around the 8th or 9th of the following month.”