Education Minister Tunji Alausa says four-year degree programmes should be completed within four years, pledging that the Federal Government will honour its agreements with tertiary institution workers to prevent strikes from disrupting academic calendars.
He made the pledge in Abuja on Tuesday, October 13, while unveiling the 2026 agreements with staff unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Alausa announced plans to expand the Implementation and Monitoring Committee established for the agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities into a single platform covering academic and non-academic unions across tertiary institutions.
The committee would track agreed milestones, assess implementation and address outstanding obligations through periodic reports. Alausa said the government wanted to identify difficulties before they became disputes that interrupted teaching and learning.
According to Vanguard, the agreements cover the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance for the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, and the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance for non-teaching unions across tertiary institutions. The report said the allowances were to take effect from January 1, 2026, under the agreements and implementation guidelines.
Alausa acknowledged that the credibility of the agreements would depend on the government meeting its obligations after the ceremony. He urged institutional managements to keep accurate records and comply with the guidelines, and asked union leaders to raise complaints through the committee.
He said the agreements provided for a review every three years, allowing the government and unions to reopen talks on emerging concerns and adjustments agreed by both sides.
ASUP president Shammah Kpanja said negotiations began in December 2025 and the agreement was signed in April 2026. He said members had received outstanding arrears between July and September, but urged the government to implement the remaining provisions.
COEASU president Lawal Bazza said more than 70 per cent of the agreement had been implemented in the colleges of education subsector.
Yayale Ahmed, who chaired the Federal Government’s negotiation team, said discrepancies in parts of the agreements would be addressed with the Ministry of Education and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
Sources: Punch, Vanguard
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