Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting of the Technical Working Group on Conditions of Service for ASUU.
He expressed optimism that all outstanding issues would soon be resolved to avert further industrial action in the nation’s universities.
According to Alausa, the Technical Working Group is finalising a counteroffer to be submitted to the unions through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee.
He noted that the committee’s efforts are in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to keep students in school and ensure a stable academic calendar.
“The President has made it clear that our children must remain in school,” Alausa said. “The technical group is finalising the condition of service proposal and will soon present a counteroffer to ASUU.”
The minister added that about 80 percent of the unions’ demands are similar across tertiary institutions, while 20 percent are specific to individual sectors.
Alausa also revealed that the government has made progress in addressing several of the unions’ demands, including the release of ₦50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances and an additional ₦150 billion in the 2025 budget for needs assessment.
He noted that promotion arrears and other outstanding allowances, including teaching and wage awards, have also been addressed and would be fully cleared by 2026.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to fairness and sustainable reforms, Alausa appealed to university unions to remain patient and avoid strikes.
“For the first time, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and officials from the Ministry of Justice are directly involved in the negotiation process,” he added, describing the step as necessary to ensure legal soundness and enforceability of agreements reached.
