The Federal Government has officially reconstituted and inaugurated the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee. The committee is tasked with accelerating ongoing discussions with all academic and non-academic unions in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, stated that the newly restructured committee was conceived to harmonize all negotiation processes within the tertiary education sector. He explained that the initiative seeks to establish a coordinated framework that integrates institutional memory, inclusiveness, and sector-wide participation for effective results.
Dr. Alausa was joined at the event by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, and the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmed, both of whom expressed their full support for the new structure. The trio underscored the importance of fostering unity among unions and government negotiators to achieve a sustainable and mutually beneficial outcome.
Highlighting a major departure from previous fragmented efforts, Dr. Alausa emphasized that the expanded negotiation committee would engage all unions collectively rather than separately. This approach, according to him, will enable the Federal Government to reach a comprehensive and sustainable agreement that addresses the varied concerns of all stakeholders simultaneously.
“The membership of this committee has been carefully selected to reflect the full spectrum of Nigeria’s education system,” the Minister stated. “Every major stakeholder is represented to ensure that no group is left behind in this renewed engagement.” He added that inclusivity, fairness, and transparency would guide every step of the negotiation process.
The Minister further disclosed that the committee has been provided with a fully functional secretariat, adequately equipped with administrative tools and professional staff to support its operations. He announced that the inaugural meeting of the committee would be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7, signaling the beginning of a new phase in labour relations within the education sector.
Dr. Alausa used the opportunity to urge all academic and non-academic unions to cooperate fully with the committee and respond promptly to its invitations and communications. He reassured union leaders that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration is fully committed to ensuring fairness, swift conclusion, and enduring peace through genuine dialogue.
“President Tinubu’s directive is clear that our children must remain in school,” he declared. “This is Renewed Hope in action, where dialogue replaces disruption, and collaboration replaces confrontation.” He also expressed gratitude to all unions for their patience and resilience amid prolonged negotiations.
In his remarks, Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, commended the Education Ministry for demonstrating exemplary leadership and inclusivity in managing the negotiation process. He noted that the success of the initiative lies in ensuring that every stakeholder is heard and represented throughout the engagement period.
He emphasized that lasting peace in the education sector can only be achieved through inclusive dialogue and collective ownership of the outcomes. “Excluding any party from the table will only deepen mistrust and division,” he said. “True reconciliation must involve all who share responsibility for our education system.”
Dingyadi further charged members of the expanded committee to act as impartial mediators, upholding justice, fairness, and accountability throughout the negotiation process. He noted that early participation and open communication among all parties would facilitate smoother implementation of the final agreements once reached.
He urged the committee to maintain continuous engagement with unions and remain sensitive to both the fiscal limitations of the government and the legitimate demands of workers. “Our duty is to strike a balance between the expectations of employees and the realities of national resources,” he said, emphasizing that the process must remain transparent and credible.
Reaffirming President Tinubu’s commitment to industrial peace, Dingyadi reiterated that dialogue, consultation, and mutual respect are vital to preventing future strikes and ensuring the continuous operation of Nigeria’s educational institutions. He expressed confidence that the expanded committee would deliver outcomes beneficial to both the workforce and the nation.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Chairman Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed expressed deep gratitude to the Federal Government for entrusting them with such a critical national assignment. He pledged that the committee would conduct its duties with transparency, inclusiveness, and sincerity of purpose, ensuring that all stakeholders are genuinely heard.
Alhaji Ahmed assured that the committee would go beyond negotiating agreements to ensure that its recommendations are realistic, implementable, and sustainable. He noted that the ultimate goal is to promote industrial harmony, enhance institutional productivity, and strengthen the long-term stability of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to restoring trust, stability, and progress across all levels of the tertiary education sector. With the inauguration of this expanded negotiation committee, the government signaled a renewed drive to deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu where every student remains in school, every educator is valued, and every institution thrives in peace, progress, and shared prosperity.
