*Dr. Olatunji Alausa, Minister for Education, assures Nigerians the Federal Government is currently engaging with members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities with the highest level of mutual respect

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that it will continue to keep pupils, students, and other learners on schools across the West African country.

绿帽献妻 reports Dr. Olatunji Alausa, Honourable Minister for Education, stated this in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the Gender Inclusion Summit, which the Policy Innovation Centre organised Wednesday, September 3, 2025, in Abuja, FCT.

Alausa said the Federal authorities would ensure that Nigerian children remain in school.

He also dismissed the growing concerns about potential strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Minister restated: 鈥淲e will keep our children in school.”

He is said to have based his assurance on the strength of ongoing talks between the Federal Government and ASUU over the non-implementation of the age-old 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.

The outstanding ASUU-FGN agreement includes sustainable funding of Nigerian Universities, revitalisation of the University system, payment of outstanding 25鈥�35 percent salary arrears, stagnated promotions for over four years, unremitted third-party deductions, and victimisation of colleagues in some institutions.

The 2009 agreement is reportedly the last deal signed by the Federal Government and ASUU.

Alausa also emphasised that the Nigerian Government is currently engaging with ASUU, and other trade unions with the highest level of mutual respect.

He asserted there is no need for private conversations (between the government and academic Union) to be made public.

Alausa also averred: 鈥淚 will tell you, we are engaging. I told you we will deal with ASUU and other trade unions with the highest level of mutual respect.

鈥淲e will continue to talk to them. I don鈥檛 want to come on TV to start talking about private conversations with them.

He equally said: “But what I can assure you is that ASUU will not go on strike; we will keep our children in school.

“This is a responsible government, and we will keep, we will ensure that our children stay in school.”

He highlighted the government鈥檚 efforts at improving the education sector in Nigeria.

According to him, these include the migration of West African Examinations Council (WAEC).and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams to Computer-Based Testing (CBT).

Alausa disclosed the government took the decision to reduce examination malpractices and improve the quality of education in the country.

He further said: 鈥淲e believe that Computer-Based Testing is one of the starting points to reduce examination malpractices in our country.

鈥淲e need to use technology, we need to migrate our exams, WAEC and NECO, to computer-based.”

The Minister explained: “There was a lot of pushback. But then, we believe that is how we can; that鈥檚 one of the starting points to reduce examination malpractices in our country.

鈥淎nd let me tell you the danger of examination malpractices, you would disincentivise the hardworking students. “And we have many more hardworking students than the fewer ones that are cheating.

“And that鈥檚 why we have moved quickly to implement the computer-based testing in WAEC and NECO.”

He restated that the WAEC exams would be conducted via Computer-Based Testing November 2025, with the Essay writing sections remaining paper-based.

According to him, by next year, both objective and essay sections will be computer-based.

Alausa declared: 鈥淎nd I am happy that by November this year, the WAEC exams that will be done in November, the objectives will be CBT, the essay will still be on paper, and the same thing with NECO. “And by next year, both the objectives and the papers and the essays will all be CBT.

“As you do this, you鈥檒l get the kids to study more, their cognition will get better, and they will be able to, the quality of their learning, of their preparation for exams will be higher, and they鈥檒l be able to do better in life, make better life decisions, navigate their lives better.鈥�

The Minister also addressed concerns about integrating underserved communities and children with disabilities into the computer-based testing system.

He noted: 鈥淲e have clear plans on how to integrate underserved communities and children with disabilities.”

Alausa also said the Nigerian Government would transport students from communities without infrastructure to support computer-based exams to designated locations.

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