Minister urges university unions to prioritise students' welfare

• Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa urged university unions, including ASUU and SSANU, to focus on students' welfare instead of frequent strikes
• He cited costly subsidies and unsustainable exchange rate policies as factors limiting government resources for education funding
• Alausa advocated for respectful negotiations and introduced a new committee led by respected figures to engage unions in collective bargaining

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has called on labour unions within the educational sector, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and others, to focus on the welfare and education of Nigerian students rather than resorting to strikes as a primary course of action.

Dr Alausa made this appeal during the opening ceremony of the 359th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of SSANU, held in Abuja on Wednesday, November 13.

The minister acknowledged the unions' persistent grievances, stemming from unfulfilled agreements by previous administrations, but assured the attendees of the current government’s resolve to meet its obligations. 

He stressed that industrial action should not be the initial response to the union’s concerns.

He emphasised President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to making difficult, long-term decisions to improve the nation’s well-being.

"To be honest, I understand the frustration. ASUU, NASU, SSANU, all of you have had your confidence shaken because previous agreements were not honoured by the government. But let me assure you, President Bola Tinubu is a Democrat committed to fulfilling the agreements made with you," Alausa stated.

He further highlighted Tinubu’s willingness to confront tough decisions, decisions he argued should have been taken decades ago to avoid the current challenges.

"When the President campaigned, he was upfront about taking difficult decisions. If those choices had been made 10, 20, or even 30 years ago, we wouldn't be in this predicament today. However, this administration is now addressing these issues and intends to fulfill its promises," Alausa added.

Alausa, recently reassigned to the Ministry of Education, also shed light on the financial constraints hampering the government’s ability to meet the unions’ demands. He noted the economic pressures inherited from past administrations, particularly due to high expenditure on subsidies and maintaining artificially low exchange rates.

“Subsidies were costing Nigeria nearly $1 billion daily, while propping up the exchange rate cost an additional $500 million each month. These policies drained the nation's resources and primarily benefited the wealthiest, at the expense of critical sectors like education,” he explained.

The minister urged union leaders to exercise patience and engage in good-faith negotiations, emphasising the government’s readiness to listen and collaborate.

“We have formed a committee led by distinguished Nigerians, including former Head of Service Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed, to facilitate dialogue with the unions. This administration is committed to listening and partnering with you. Let us work together to prioritise our children’s education and keep them in school,” he urged.

In his remarks, former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, voiced his concerns over the government's repeated breaches of collective agreements, which he identified as a significant catalyst for strikes in Nigeria.

"Failure to respect collective bargaining agreements has been a persistent cause of industrial actions in this country," Wabba stated.

He underscored the economic and social costs of strikes, citing the severe financial impact of the 2012 petroleum subsidy strike. Wabba advocated for systemic reforms to enhance the collective bargaining process, emphasising the need for trust and transparency from the government and unions.

He suggested the establishment of a formal body similar to South Africa’s Labour Council, where quarterly meetings between union leaders and government representatives would allow for ongoing dialogue and proactive resolution of issues.

SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim also spoke, calling for a shift in the perception of unions as overly confrontational or "strike-happy." He noted that the conference theme, “Respecting Collective Bargaining Agreements and Industrial Peace in a Democracy,” reflected the union’s commitment to fostering a peaceful industrial environment.

“The past year has been particularly challenging for Nigerian workers, especially members of SSANU. The main issue plaguing the Nigerian education sector, particularly at the tertiary level, has been the frequency of strikes due to breaches of agreements between unions and employers," Ibrahim observed.

He highlighted that since the transition to democratic governance in 1999, complaints have steadily increased regarding the failure of collective bargaining at both federal and state levels.

"As a consequence, our tertiary institutions have been marred by industrial tensions, protests, and frequent strikes. This has unfortunately led to a perception of union leaders as belligerent or quick to strike," Ibrahim said.

He concluded by emphasising the need for a constructive dialogue to reshape this narrative and bring about a positive shift for the benefit of unions, the government, students, and the broader public.

We have returned 4 million out-of-school children to the classroom, Education Minister Mamman says

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Professor Tahir Mamman, the former Minister of Education, disclosed that the federal government returned four million out-of-school children to their classrooms. 

The minister disclosed this in a statement that was made through the acting National Universities Commission (NUC)  Executive Secretary, Ambassador Chris Maiyaki, who represented him at the 2nd International Conference of Kwara State Universities (KU8+), which focused on “Shaping Sustainable Future: Connecting University and Industries Through Joint Initiatives.”