The Federal Government on Tuesday inaugurated an expanded negotiation committee chaired by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, to harmonise ongoing discussions with university-based unions.
The Government said it is doing so in a bid to forestall another shutdown of public universities in the country.
The committee, tagged “Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee”, is tasked with engaging all academic and non-academic unions — including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) — under a unified framework aimed at achieving lasting industrial harmony in tertiary institutions.
The move comes amid heightened tension in the education sector following a 14-day strike notice issued by ASUU and similar threats by NASU and SSANU over unresolved issues bordering on unpaid allowances, withheld salaries, and implementation of the 2009 agreement.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, said the reconstituted committee was designed to replace fragmented negotiation processes with a coordinated structure that reflects institutional memory and ensures inclusiveness across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
“The membership of the committee has been carefully selected to represent the full spectrum of the education sector. President Bola Tinubu has directed that all negotiations be concluded swiftly, fairly, and in the spirit of mutual respect,” Alausa said.
The minister added that a fully equipped secretariat has been established to support the committee’s work, with its first meeting scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. He urged all unions to cooperate with the committee in the interest of national stability and uninterrupted academic calendars.
Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, commended the Education Ministry for adopting an inclusive approach, stressing that “true and lasting peace in the education sector can only be achieved when all stakeholders are fully involved.”
He charged members of the committee to act as impartial mediators guided by fairness and justice, adding that the government remains committed to resolving all outstanding issues through dialogue rather than confrontation.
In his remarks, Mr. Mahmud Yayale Ahmed expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the confidence reposed in the committee, pledging transparency, openness, and fairness in steering the negotiation process.
“We intend to listen to all sides and pursue agreements that are practical, realistic, and sustainable. Our goal is not only to prevent strikes but to restore trust and stability across Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape,” Ahmed said.
The Federal Government’s latest intervention comes as university unions intensify mobilization for industrial action. ASUU had last week directed its branches nationwide to prepare for a warning strike, while NASU and SSANU jointly threatened a seven-day shutdown over similar grievances.
