Precious Nwonu, Enugu

The Federal Government has directed tertiary institutions to ensure that four-year degree programmes are completed within the stipulated period, as it moves to strengthen monitoring of agreements with staff unions to prevent strikes.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the directive on Tuesday in Abuja during the unveiling of the 2026 agreements between the Federal Government and unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Alausa said the agreements were designed to fulfil President Bola Tinubu’s promise that students should complete four-year courses within 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.

He said the government was determined to address recurring disputes over the implementation of agreements with unions, which have disrupted academic calendars and delayed students’ graduation.

As part of the measures, Alausa announced plans to expand the existing Implementation and Monitoring Committee, initially established to oversee the agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, to cover academic and non-academic unions across tertiary institutions.

The proposed expanded committee will monitor implementation, track agreed milestones, identify challenges and issue periodic reports to promote accountability.

According to the minister, the arrangement will help resolve disagreements at an early stage before they escalate into industrial disputes capable of disrupting academic activities.

He urged union leaders to use the committee to address complaints rather than resort to public confrontations or threats of strikes.

“We must strengthen early consultation and resolve differences through constructive dialogue, mutual respect and good-faith engagement,” he said, adding that students and their families must remain central to the process.

Alausa also disclosed that the agreements provide for reviews every three years, allowing the government and unions to revisit emerging issues and consider mutually agreed adjustments.

Meanwhile, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Shammah Kpanja, described the negotiation process as the fastest in the union’s history.

Kpanja said negotiations began in December 2025 and resulted in the signing of the agreement in April 2026.

He disclosed that implementation had started, with members receiving outstanding arrears between July and September, but called on the government to fulfil the remaining provisions.

The ASUP president also welcomed plans to inaugurate a joint implementation committee, expressing hope that it would speed up the process before the end of the year.

Similarly, the President of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Lawal Bazza, said more than 70 per cent of the agreement for the subsector had been implemented.

Bazza expressed confidence that the monitoring committee would help resolve outstanding issues and ensure the full implementation of the agreement.

The Chairman of the Federal Government Negotiation Team, Yayale Ahmed, had also stressed the need for both parties to honour their commitments, warning against threats of indefinite strikes over unpaid entitlements.

Ahmed said the success of the agreements would depend on the government’s commitment to implementation and the unions’ willingness to exercise patience.

He further disclosed that discrepancies had been identified in some parts of the agreements and would be addressed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.