The federal government on Tuesday said that the welfare of both academic and non-academic staff of tertiary institutions remained a top priority.
The government said this was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Human Capital Development.
Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, said this in a statement signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, on Tuesday.
The statement was in response to the strike declared by branches of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the delay in payment of their June salary.
The minister said that ASUU was not on strike, emphasising the government’s continued efforts to ensure industrial harmony in the nation’s federal tertiary institutions.
Alausa noted that the current atmosphere of stability across tertiary institutions was the result of sustained dialogue, mutual respect, and genuine commitment by the present administration to address the demands of academic and non-academic staff unions.
He said, “It is not by coincidence that Nigerian Public Tertiary Institutions have remained open and stable for the past two years, something that has not happened in several decades.
“This is a reflection of our government’s unwavering commitment to maintaining cordial relationships with all stakeholders in the education sector. We are meeting demands in phases, and we are doing so respectfully and consistently.”
He reassured that the government will not relent in improving working conditions and protecting the academic calendar.
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“Our children are the heartbeat of the nation, and their uninterrupted education is non-negotiable. The Federal Government will continue to work closely with all unions in the education sector to ensure that the gates of our institutions remain open,” he added.
The minister urged the public to disregard any misinformation suggesting that ASUU was on strike, reiterating that the current stability in the university system was a joint achievement that must be preserved.