Nigeria, Jan. 27 -- The Nigerian government said it has released N50 billion out of the N200 billion promised Needs Assessment Fund as part of the recent agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Sunday, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said another N50 billion will soon be released, bringing the total to N100 billion.

Mr Alausa said the education ministry would meet the heads of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to decide how the Needs Assessment Fund will be spent.

The Needs Assessment Fund is a component of the contentious 2009 agreement between ASUU and the federal government.

The 2009 agreement, whose renegotiation was due...