The Minister of Education Tunji Alausa has assured university-based unions the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu would honour any agreement signed with them.
Alausa, who acknowledged that the unions in the university system may feel frustrated by the failure of past governments to honour past agreements, assured that Tinubu’s administration was committed to delivering on its promises.
The Minister, who spoke during the opening of the 3rd quadrennial national delegates conference of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in Abuja on Tuesday, urged labour unions, particularly those in the education sector, to prioritise the welfare and education of Nigerian students by choosing dialogue over strike actions.
Alausa noted that industrial action should be a last resort used only after all other options had been exhausted.
According to him, Tinubu is committed to making tough decisions that he believes will lead to long-term national benefits.
The Minister said: “I understand your frustrations. Previous administrations entered agreements with unions that were often left unfulfilled, affecting the trust between labour and government. But let me assure you, President Tinubu is a democrat committed to honoring obligations and creating meaningful change.”
Alausa urged unions to trust the current administration’s commitment to open dialogue.
He said: “We have assembled a committee led by respected figures, including Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed, former Head of the Service, to engage in respectful, productive bargaining. Let’s prioritize the future of our children and keep them in school.
“I assure you that the Ministry will continue to prioritise fair negotiations and the swift implementation of agreements. Together, we can build a more robust education sector that serves the interests of all Nigerians.
“We all need work hand in hand to uphold the principles of industrial peace and democratic governance. By doing so, we are investing in the future of our nation, empowering our youth, and laying a strong foundation for sustainable development.”
He assured the unions that the government was working to address their concerns, citing recent discussions that led to the release of one month out of the four months withheld salary of SSANU members and a commitment to continued advocacy for fair conditions.
Former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba said the failure of the government to respect collective bargaining agreements (CBA) was responsible for strikes.
Wabba urged the government to always honour agreement with labour unions in other to maintain industrial peace.
SSANU National President Mohammed Ibrahim urged the government to release the remaining three months withheld salaries; the N50 billion Earned Allowance, pay the arrears of 25/35 per cent and the N35, 000 wage award.
Ibrahim noted that strikes remained one of the challenges facing tertiary education in the country.
He said this is as a result of breaches of agreements entered between the unions and their employers.
“As a result, industrial tensions in our tertiary institutions, protests and strikes have become the order of the day. Unfortunately, the trend has created a situation where unions and their leaders are being perceived as being too belligerent or strike happy,” the SSANU President said.
(NAN)
