The federal government has promised to sign and immediately implement the 2009 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), starting from January 2026.

The minister of education, Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday, appearing on Channels TV 2025 in Retrospect show, stated that the signing of the 2009 agreement, would take place by January 14, 2026.

Mr Alausa stated, “By January 2026, the 2009 agreement will be signed and fully implemented. This administration does not make empty promises. When commitments are made, they are fulfilled.”

“With the signing of this agreement and the reforms we have put in place, ASUU strikes should become a thing of the past. Our students deserve uninterrupted education, and that is what we are committed to delivering,” the minister said.

Emphasising the federal government’s commitment to the education sector, Mr Alausa stated that Mr Tinubu’s administration is prepared to end recurring strike actions, which consequently prolongs students’ academic duration.

“If you add up the days and months lost to strikes over the years, some students have lost almost four academic years. That is unacceptable. A four-year course must remain four years. We will not accommodate disruptions that keep our children out of school,” the minister said.

On staff welfare, Mr Alausa stated that the government will effect salary adjustments for members of academic staff, in a bid to foster quality teaching.

“The academic staff members will get 40 per cent increase on their salaries in 2026. It never happened before. President Bola Tinubu made it happen. We would have the official signing on the 14th of January,” Mr Alausa said.

In his review of the sector’s performance in 2025, the minister stated that the 2025 budgetary allocation was properly utilised to erect learning spaces, laboratories, engineering workshops, lecture theatres and faculty offices.

“In the past two years, we have had the highest budget for education in the history of this country. The platform is there, and the funds are being used directly for interventions that matter,” he said.

“We are building learning spaces. If you go to our universities today, you will see massive upgrades going on. We are building new classrooms and new schools across 18 states. We are upgrading laboratories in thousands of schools, and we are retaining and retraining our teachers through digital platforms,” Mr Alausa added.