Speaking with journalists on Wednesday at the Gender Inclusion Summit in Abuja, Alausa reaffirmed government’s commitment to keeping students in school.
“We will keep our children in school,” the minister said, stressing that ongoing engagements with ASUU and other unions are being handled with “the highest level of mutual respect.”
His comments come amid concerns over the non-implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, which covers sustainable funding for universities, revitalisation of facilities, payment of outstanding salary arrears, stalled promotions, unremitted deductions, and alleged victimisation of members.
While refusing to disclose details of negotiations, Alausa insisted there was no cause for alarm. “ASUU will not go on strike. This is a responsible government, and we will ensure our children remain in school,” he said.
The minister also highlighted reforms in the education sector, including the transition of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) to computer-based testing (CBT). He explained that the initiative is aimed at reducing exam malpractices and raising academic standards.
According to him, WAEC will begin CBT with its November examinations, with the essay section still on paper. By next year, both objective and essay papers for WAEC and NECO will be fully computer-based. He added that provisions are being made to integrate underserved communities and children with disabilities into the new system.
At the same summit, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, underscored the growing influence of women in leadership, revealing that women now lead over 40 percent of Nigeria’s key commercial banks. She noted that female executives currently occupy about 22 percent of leadership positions nationwide, surpassing the global average of 20 percent.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim also shared success stories of women’s empowerment across states, citing Adamawa’s landmark decision to allow women inherit land and hold key positions, as well as Niger State’s policy of reserving all vice-chairmanship positions in local governments for women.
The summit, themed “New Voices and New Approaches for Accelerating an Inclusive Society”, brought together government officials, private sector leaders, and civil society stakeholders to push for systemic reforms that promote equity and inclusion.
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