By Atoyebi Nike
The Federal Government has reconstituted and inaugurated the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee to fast-track discussions with academic and non-academic unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the new body would unify all negotiation processes under a single framework to ensure sector-wide inclusiveness. He added that the committee has a fully equipped secretariat and will hold its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, October 7.
Alausa noted that President Bola Tinubu has given full political backing for swift and fair negotiations, stressing that the goal is to keep students in school.
The move comes as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) prepares for a two-week warning strike starting October 13. In a memo to branches, ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, accused the government of failing to address unresolved issues, including the implementation of the renegotiated 2009 agreement.
