Tinubu Urges University Staff to Embrace Peace, Negotiations Over Strikes

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday called on Nigerian university staff to embrace peace and engage in negotiations rather than resorting to strikes. The President’s appeal came in response to planned industrial actions by university unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), who are demanding withheld salaries from the 2022 strike and the implementation of the 2009 agreement.

Speaking during the 39th convocation ceremony at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, he emphasised his government’s commitment to uninterrupted academic sessions in universities. He highlighted the need for peace in educational institutions to foster prosperity and vowed not to allow universities to shut down over resolvable issues.

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The President announced the payment of four months of previously withheld salaries for academic staff and promised to settle withheld salaries for non-teaching staff. He also revealed that the government had directed the removal of university staff salaries from the controversial Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), a key demand of university unions.

Additionally, President Bola Tinubu addressed the newly launched Nigerian Education Loans Fund (NELFUND), which aims to provide students with access to loans for their education, helping to mitigate the financial challenges caused by the current economic climate. He encouraged students to take advantage of this opportunity to ease their academic journey.

The convocation ceremony saw 12,042 students receive certificates and diplomas, with 256 achieving First Class honors. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Wahab Egbewole urged the graduates to continue learning and adapting as they move forward in life, emphasising that their education is a foundation for future success in a competitive global environment.