The Federal Government has said four-year degree programmes must be completed within the stipulated period, as it moves to strengthen the monitoring of agreements with academic and non-academic unions to prevent strikes in tertiary institutions.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated this in Abuja while unveiling the 2026 agreements between the Federal Government and unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

He said the agreements were designed to fulfil President Bola Tinubu’s promise of uninterrupted academic calendars and timely graduation.

“During his campaign, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promised that a four-year course would be completed in four years, “Today, through his leadership, these agreements give practical expression to that pledge: A promise made, a promise kept and trust restored.”

The minister announced plans to expand the existing Implementation and Monitoring Committee, initially established for the agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, to cover other academic and non-academic unions.

Alausa urged union leaders to resolve disagreements through dialogue rather than public confrontations or threats of strikes.

The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Shammah Kpanja, described the negotiation process as the fastest in the union’s history, noting that discussions began in December 2025 and the agreement was signed in April 2026.

Similarly, the President of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Lawal Bazza, said more than 70 per cent of the agreement had been implemented in the subsector. He expressed optimism that the proposed joint implementation committee would help resolve outstanding issues and accelerate the process before the end of the year.

Chairman of the Federal Government Negotiation Team, Yayale Ahmed, also stressed the need for patience and commitment from both parties, warning against threats of indefinite strikes over unpaid entitlements.