The Federal Government has begun the final phase of negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and other tertiary education unions.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made this revelation on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting of the Technical Working Group on Conditions of Service of ASUU.

Alausa said that outstanding issues would soon be resolved to prevent further industrial action, adding that the group was finalising a counter-offer to be presented to the unions through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee.

The minister stressed that the committee’s work aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that all efforts must be made to keep Nigerian students in school and avoid disruptions to the academic calendar.

“The President has made it clear that our children must remain in school. The technical working group is working to finalise a component of the condition of service that has to be proposed. They are working to finalise a counteroffer to them.

“Hopefully by the end of today, or latest tomorrow, the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expected Negotiations Committee will receive that counteroffer to ASUU,” he said.

He added that this present administration had made significant progress already with the payment of the Earned Academic Allowance of N50 billion released by Tinubu.

The Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, on Sunday decried the shortage of teachers in the state’s public schools.

Bernard Gbenga Ajobiewe, the state chairman of NUT, lamented the shortage at the 2025 World Teachers’ Day in Benin City with the theme, ‘Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession’.

Ajobiewe, who commended the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led government for the infrastructural development so far executed in schools, noting that the infrastructure would amount to nothing if there are no teaching personnel.

According to him, the dearth of teachers os more pronounced in the rural areas.

He added that the government of Adams Oshiomhole left behind over 13,000 teachers and that the figure reduced to about 6,000 at the end of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration.

The NUT chairman added that over 7,000 teachers are needed in the basic education system.

“We want to say here that after all the reconstruction and renovations of our schools and there are no teachers in the schools it borne out that nothing has been done.

“We want to say that there is a grossly acute shortage of teachers in our schools especially in our rural areas, and as such we want to beg the government to please recruit more teachers so that the vacuum created can be filled so that teaching and learning can be effective in our schools.

“We also look at the dilapidated structures in some of our schools especially in the rural areas. And I know that the government is trying its best but let us still intensify efforts because there are still challenges in terms of infrastructure

“Our slogan is that an average Edo child should be able to access quality education. So if every Edo child should access quality education that means that all facilities and otherwise should be made available in all schools undermining the status of the location whether it is a hamlet, village or a city all schools must enjoy equal facilities,” he said.

The NUT chairman also demanded the urgent implementation of financial benefits for teachers, promotions and the accrued arrears, provision of comprehensive teachers welfare policy including housing, insurance and rural posting incentives.

His equally called for awards to outstanding performing teachers, students/pupils and the inclusion of NUT leadership in SUBEB as board members in line with the UBEC law.

The Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, on Sunday urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to rescind his decision to hand over public schools to Catholic missionaries.

The NUT said the development may bring about inequalities, inaccessible to marginalized group

Ekwutosblog reports that state chairman of the union, Bernard Gbenga Ajobiewe, made the demand in his speech at the celebration of the 2025 World Teachers’ Day in Benin City.

The 2025 World Teachers’ Day has the theme, ‘Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession’.

Ajobiewe appealed to the government to take a second look into the issue.

He opined that the handing over of schools to missionary organisations may deprive marginalized groups the opportunity to benefit from religious affiliate institutions.

“As a union, we are committed to advocating for the right, welfare of our people at the same time development of education in our State.

“Sir, we strongly appeal to you to take a second look into the issue of handing over schools to Missionaries organisations in the State. As a union, we are not in support of this agenda,” he said.

Ajobiewe further said the union believes that education should be secular, noting that any attempt to handover schools to missionaries will jeopardize the good intention of the state government.

He noted that the intention of the state government is to ensure that all Edo children receive quality and affordable education.

“The union observed that handing over schools to missionaries in Edo State is complex and needs to be handled with sensitivity and foresight to avert the unforeseen damages it may cause to the education sector in the state and society at large,” he said.

Ekwutosblog recalls that the Nigeria Union of Teachers, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, and the Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria, had in June 2025 faulted the planned return of schools to missionaries by the Edo State government.

The unions in a joint letter to the government expressed concern and disagreement over the decision of the government to hand over Catholic missionary schools to their original owners.

They posited that the move may seem like a positive step towards restoring autonomy and promoting religious freedom, but it poses significant dangers to the education sector and the state as a whole.

In his remarks, the State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Bernard Egwuakhide, said despite the difficulties inherent in the teaching profession, teachers put in their best to mentor and mould children who are the future leaders of the country.

“As teachers, you are the oil that makes the wheel of progress and growth of any and every society keep moving and moving towards the desired goal.

“As the Nigeria labour congress, Edo state council chairman, I congratulate you today as you continue to ensure that the economic, social, cultural and political development of Nigeria and indeed the world is continuous through your impartation.

“You are the momentum that continues to champion a society where men and women have relative equality and for this the whole world is grateful.

“Let us not also forget that the job of teaching is better done when parents, guardians and indeed the government collaborate to make the teacher wake up to performing their everyday wonders with great excitement, hope and a sense of fulfillment.

“I want to use this opportunity to implore the government in all its ramifications to encourage our teachers so that they can better do their jobs,” he added.

On her part, the Edo State Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Mrs Ebanehita Sonia Omonzane urged teachers in the state to to continue shaping young minds with patience and integrity, describing them as “true nation builders”.

Omonzane also urged every teacher to continue to embrace learning, teamwork and collaboration among themselves.