No More Broken Agreements, Federal Govt Assures Tertiary Institutions’ Workers

BY HENRY TYOHEMBA AND GABI HIBBATULLAH, Abuja

The Federal Government has assured workers in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education that it will honour agreements reached with their unions, declaring that the era of unfulfilled promises and prolonged industrial disputes must give way to trust, accountability and sustained dialogue.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance at the unveiling of the 2026 agreements between the Federal Government and staff unions of tertiary institutions in Abuja yesterday.

The Minister said the government was committed to implementing the agreements, stressing that public confidence would depend on its willingness to fulfil the obligations undertaken.

“Let me state clearly, on behalf of the Federal Government, that we will fulfil our part of this historic agreement. We recognise that public confidence will depend on the obligations we honour after this ceremony,” he said.

He lamented that previous agreements between the government and staff unions were often followed by delays, incomplete implementation, and unfulfilled commitments, resulting in declining trust, recurring disputes, and prolonged strikes across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

According to him, the disruptions had imposed additional financial burdens on families, affected teaching and research, and denied students valuable learning time.

“Most importantly, students lost precious months and years. Families faced additional costs and uncertainty, while teaching and research suffered. A four-year programme too often extended beyond four years,” Alausa said.

He attributed the latest agreements to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to reforming the education sector and improving the welfare of its workforce, adding that the administration was determined to restore confidence between the government and unions.

The minister said the agreements also reflected the President’s campaign promise that students should be able to complete four-year degree programmes within the stipulated period.

“When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu campaigned, he promised that a four-year course would be completed in four years. Today, through his leadership, these agreements give practical expression to that pledge. A promise made, a promise kept, and trust restored,” he said.

The minister disclosed that the agreements covered the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CARTA) for academic unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, as well as the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTA) for non-teaching staff unions across the institutions.

He recalled that the agreement on CARTA for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was unveiled in December, while the latest ceremony extended the arrangements to other academic and non-academic unions in the tertiary education system.

According to him, both allowances took effect from January 2026 and have been paid to tertiary institutions.

“Today, I can report to you that both CARTA and CONTA have been paid to all tertiary institutions,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Education commended Alausa for his leadership in resolving disputes within the tertiary education sector, saying the agreements marked a significant milestone in improving staff welfare and strengthening industrial relations.

He said the agreements went beyond the formal presentation of negotiated terms, describing them as an opportunity to rebuild trust, reaffirm commitments and create an enabling environment for effective delivery of quality tertiary education.

“This gathering represents a significant milestone in our collective efforts to strengthen industrial relations, improve staff welfare and promote a stable, productive and responsive tertiary education system in Nigeria,” he said.