Opinion
Much Ado About FG/ASUU Agreement
There has been so much
fuss about the on-going strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). So much that at some point it has either been ridiculously personalised, politicised or made to look cynically unbecoming of supposedly respected intellectuals.
It is, in fact, most dishearteningly difficult to view it otherwise. Particularly when one considers that someone as highly, strategically and respectfully placed as the Senate President could so sarcastically declare that the Federal Government (FG) and ASUU representatives which voluntarily agreed on the way forward for Nigeria’s comatose education sector are nonentities. His reason being that they should have known ab initio that the terms of the agreement were impossible to implement.
It is however, reassuring that the consensus is for ASUU to sheathe its sword and go back to the classroom while negotiation continues. In most cases, calls in this direction are made with the innocuous belief that ASUU should understand that no one can win a case against the Federal Government. This is why many see ASUU as taking the issue unnecessarily too far.
No one seems to ask why it took this long or, worse still, no one seems to pause to ponder why it has to take a strike by the lecturers for the 2009 Agreement to be revisited and implemented. Even those who have over the years complained bitterly about the poor state of the country’s education sector now blame ASUU for the continued stand-off.
Beyond this, if most of the hullabaloo on the ASUU strike can be dismissed as the wranglings, of the uninformed or ill-informed, the same can hardly be said of the Senate President, whose privileged position affords him the opportunity of getting firsthand knowledge on national issues like the Federal Government, ASUU Agreement.
It is, therefore, unexpected that the Senate President, should make assertions about such sensitive issue as the ASUU strike, which has kept Nigerian children, tomorrow’s workforce, at home for over five months, in such derogatory terms by showing disdain to the calibre of persons involved in the 2009 FG/ASUU Agreement.
Events leading to the 2009 Agreement actually started on Thursday, December 4, 2006, when the then Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria inaugurated the FG/ASUU Re-negotiation Committee.
The Committee, comprising the Federal Government Re-negotiation Team, was led by the then Pro-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Deacon Gamaliel O. Onosode (OFR), while the ASUU Re-negotiation Team was led by the then President of ASUU, Dr. Abdullahi Sule-Kano.
The ASUU team submitted a position paper at the meeting titled, “Proposal for the Re-negotiation of the 2001 Agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria/governments of the States that own Universities and the ASUU,’ which reflected the views of ASUU on various issues in the 2001 FGN/ASUU Agreement.
The position paper proposed a single term of reference, which was to renegotiate the 2001 FGN/ASUU Agreement and enter into a workable agreement.
Both teams agreed on four issues as their focus: (i) condition of service, (ii) funding, (iii) university autonomy and academic freedom, (iv) other matters.
Unanimously, the Agreement was targeted at ensuring the viability of the country’s university system, with one, rather than a multiple, set of academic standards; and whereas it was recognised by the Negotiating Teams that education is in the Concurrent Legislative List, and by the Agreement, the FG does not intend to and shall not compel the State Governments to implement the provisions of the Agreement in respect of their universities.
The parties were unanimous that State Governments would be encouraged to adopt the Agreement as benchmarks; details on the Agreement such as the breakdown of lecturers’ salary structure, staff loans, pension, overtime and moderation of examinations.
It was also agreed that entitled academic staff shall be paid earned allowances at the rates undertaken in the listed assignments, as well as that Decree 11 of 1993 and the Pension Reform Act (2004) should be amended.
It is noteworthy that the above negotiation was done in a peaceful manner, and in an atmosphere devoid of rancour, unnecessary politicking and blackmailing in order to enforce contractual positions.
It therefore behoves the Federal Government, which, as it were, has an upper hand in the arrangement to, at least, propose a reasonable meeting point if it feels the 2009 Agreement was done in error, and not to blame ASUU for drawing attention to the Agreement.
One of such reasonable meeting points that readily comes to mind is for the Federal Government to use its good offices to institute the Agreement using people it can trust, since the bone of contention seems to be lack of trust on how the proposed sum of money can be judiciously expended by the leadership of ASUU.
For the sake of Nigeria’s educational system, this Mortgage of the future of the country’s tomorrow’s leaders and generations yet unborn must stop. But there must also be a reasonable way forward, and only the Federal Government can set the tone by treading the path of honour that would bring about lasting peace and harmony in the country’s universities.
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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