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The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fulfilled 90 per cent of his campaign promises, arguing that his administration deserves another four years to consolidate its achievements.
Alausa stated this while speaking at the unveiling of the non-academic staff agreement for tertiary institutions where he defended the President’s record and urged Nigerians to assess his performance objectively.
The minister accused opposition figures of spreading misinformation about the administration’s performance, insisting that the government had recorded significant achievements that should inform public judgement ahead of the 2027 general election.
He maintained that Tinubu’s commitment to education and the resolution of longstanding disputes with tertiary institution unions demonstrated his determination to fulfil his campaign pledges.
According to Alausa, the President’s support enabled the Federal Government to negotiate agreements with academic and non-academic unions after years of disagreements that repeatedly disrupted academic activities and prolonged students’ stay in school.
He commended the unions for their participation in the negotiations, describing the agreements as an opportunity to improve staff welfare, strengthen industrial harmony and guarantee more predictable academic calendars.
The minister said the Federal Government would honour its commitments under the agreements, adding that the success of the process would ultimately depend on effective implementation by relevant agencies, governing councils and institutional managements.
He also urged union leaders to channel grievances through established mechanisms instead of rushing to the media with threats of industrial action.
“You have a President who has your back. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has your back,” he told the union leaders, urging them to engage the government before making public declarations that could create tension.
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Alausa said the government had decided to expand the existing Implementation and Monitoring Committee for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) into a single committee responsible for monitoring agreements with academic and non-academic staff unions across tertiary institutions.
He explained that the decision was informed by the experience of using one expanded negotiating committee to engage the different unions, a strategy he said helped accelerate the conclusion of the agreements.
According to him, the Federal Government also intends to make the expanded implementation committee permanent to ensure that challenges are identified early and resolved before they threaten industrial peace.
The minister further disclosed that the agreement provides for renegotiation every three years, allowing the government and unions to review emerging concerns and consider adjustments through dialogue.
He, however, urged union leaders to make demands with due consideration for the country’s financial capacity, stressing that sustainable agreements must reflect both workers’ welfare needs and available resources.
Alausa said industrial harmony was essential to educational excellence because it would enable institutions to plan effectively, sustain research and allow students to concentrate on their studies without the uncertainty of recurring strikes.
He praised the chairman of the Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee, Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed, and members of the committee for their patience and dedication during the negotiations.
The minister also acknowledged the contributions of relevant ministries, departments and agencies, as well as technical teams involved in the process.
He said the Federal Government remained committed to translating the agreements into improved staff welfare and uninterrupted academic activities. “A four-year programme must be a four-year programme. A promise made is a promise kept,” Alausa said.
