FG vs ASUU: Education Remains a Top Priority for Tinubu – Minister

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to prioritising education, following ongoing engagements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). This assurance was given by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, who emphasised that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu considers the education sector a critical national priority.

Professor Ahmad made this known during an interview on Arise Television, which was monitored on Thursday. She explained that the President personally directed the Ministry of Education to ensure that a workable and mutually acceptable agreement was reached between the Federal Government and ASUU.

According to the Minister, the President’s involvement underscored his determination to resolve long-standing issues affecting public universities and to stabilise the academic calendar. She noted that the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Government and lecturers in public universities was a product of deliberate negotiations backed by strong political will.

“Education is a priority for the President,” Professor Ahmad stated. “He personally reached out to ask what was required to ensure that an agreement was reached between the Federal Government and ASUU.”

She further explained that the Ministry clearly outlined the terms and conditions guiding the negotiations with ASUU, after which President Tinubu granted approval for the process to move forward.

“We explained the basis of our negotiations to him, and he approved them,” she said.

The Minister added that before the final agreement was reached, President Tinubu was fully briefed on the contents and implications of the MoU. According to her, the President not only endorsed the agreement but also authorised that the financial components of the deal be captured in the national budget, subject to the level of work completed prior to its implementation.

Professor Ahmad stressed that meaningful agreements between government and labour unions can only be sustained when there is genuine interest and readiness to honour commitments.

“As a government, once you have the political will and genuine concern for national development, whatever you negotiate must be implemented. The government has the final responsibility to ensure that agreements reached are executed in the interest of the country,” she explained.

Her remarks come amid renewed public attention on government-ASUU relations, particularly following years of industrial actions that disrupted academic activities across Nigerian public universities. The latest development signals a renewed effort by the current administration to foster dialogue, reduce conflicts, and strengthen the education sector