Abuja: Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, has made a heartfelt appeal to labour unions within the education sector to place the importance of education above strike actions, emphasizing the future welfare of Nigerian students. Alausa delivered this message during the 359th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the theme of the conference was ‘Respecting Collective Bargaining Agreements and Industrial Peace in a Democracy’. Dr. Alausa highlighted that resorting to industrial action should not be the primary strategy for gaining the government’s attention regarding unions’ demands. He acknowledged the frustration shared by unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) due to unfulfilled governmental agreements. However, he reassured the delegates that President Bola Tinubu is committed to fulfilling his obligations and
agreements with the unions.
Dr. Alausa also addressed the financial constraints faced by the government, including the heavy expenditures from the previous administration on subsidies and artificially low exchange rates, which have drained national resources. He pointed out that these policies primarily benefited the wealthy and diverted resources from essential sectors like education, with subsidies costing Nigeria nearly one billion dollars daily and exchange rate management adding another 500 million dollars monthly.
The minister urged the labour unions to engage in respectful collective bargaining and assured them that a committee led by esteemed Nigerians, including former Head of Service Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, has been formed to negotiate with the unions.
Mr. Ayuba Wabba, the Former President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), expressed the frustration of labour unions due to repeated breaches of agreements by the federal government, identifying this as a significant cause of strikes in Nigeria. He prop
osed the creation of a Labour Council, modeled after South Africa’s, to facilitate regular meetings between government and union representatives, which could proactively address emerging issues and foster trust.
Additionally, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, National President of SSANU, called for a change in the perception of unions, which are often labeled as ‘strike-happy’. He advocated for a new narrative that promotes industrial peace and acknowledges the unions’ role in seeking fair agreements.