Four-year courses must end in four years, Alausa tells varsities as FG unveils new agreement

expands monitoring committee to cover academic, non-teaching unions By Joseph Erunke, Abuja The federal government has pledged to honour its agreements with tertiary institution workers, declaring that Nigerian students must no longer lose precious academic years to strikes triggered by unfulfilled government commitments. Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja while unveiling the 2026 agreements between the Federal Government and staff unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. Alausa, who described the agreements as a major step towards restoring confidence in government-union relations, said the administration of President Bola Tinubu was determined to end the cycle of broken promises, industrial disputes and disruptions to academic calendars that had plagued the country’s tertiary education system for decades.

He declared that a four-year degree programme must be completed in four years, insisting that the Federal Government would fulfil its obligations under the newly unveiled agreements. “During his campaign, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 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,” the minister said.

The agreements cover the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, CATA, for the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, as well as the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance, CONTTA, for non-teaching staff unions across universities,polytechnics and colleges of education. The allowances are to take effect from January 1, 2026, in line with the agreements and applicable implementation guidelines. Alausa, however, acknowledged that the unveiling of the agreements was only the beginning, stressing that their credibility would ultimately depend on the government’s ability to implement the provisions faithfully.

“Let me state clearly, on behalf of the Federal Government: We will fulfil our own part of these historic agreements. We recognise that public confidence will depend on the obligations we honour after this ceremony,” he said. In a move aimed at preventing future disputes over the implementation of agreements, the minister announced the expansion of the existing Impleme…

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja The federal government has pledged to honour its agreements with tertiary institution workers, declaring that Nigerian students must no longer lose precious academic years to strikes triggered by unfulfilled government commitments.