The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have reached a landmark agreement aimed at improving lecturers' welfare, restoring industrial harmony and ensuring uninterrupted academic calendars in federal universities. Unveilling the pact in Abuja, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described it as a historic turning point capable of rebuilding trust and confidence in Nigeria's university system after decades of strikes and instability. The agreement has drawn commendation from stakeholders, including the National Association of Nigerian Student (NANS), the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) and the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), though some expressed reservations.
"This is more than the unveiling of a document, it symbolises renewed trust, restored confidence and a decisive turning point in the history of Nigeria's tertiary education system," Alausa said, crediting President Bola Tinubu for personally intervening in what he called a long-standing crisis. "For the first time in our history, a sitting President confronted this challenge head-on and gave it the leadership attention it truly deserved."
Central to the agreement is a 40 per cent upward review of academic staff emoluments, approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026. Salaries will comprise the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) and an enhanced Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to support research, pubications, conferences and professional development.
The deal also restructures nine earned academic allowances, clearly defining and linking them to duties such as postgraduate supervision, fieldwork, clinical responsibilities, examinations and leadership roles. In a first for Nigeria's universities, a new professorial cadre allowance wa appproved for full-time professors and readers, with professors to earn N1.74 million annually and readers N840,000.
According to Alausa, the allowance is designed to boost research coordination and administrative efficiency. "This intervention is not cosmetic," he said, assuring that the Federal Government remains committed to faithful implementation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, described the agreement as "a major step towards rescuing Nigeria's troubled university system," though he lamented the prolonged delay. "What we are unveiling today is the outcome of a prolonged struggle that began in 2017," he said, tracing failed renegotiations before progress was achieved under the Yayale Ahmed-led committee.
Piwuna said the agreement addresses conditions of service, funding, university autonomy, academic freedom, and systemic reforms to curb brain drain. He commended President Tinubu, Alausa and Ahmed for what he called uncommon commitment, recalling Ahmed’s pledge: “I stake my integrity on this.”
Despite welcoming the deal, the ASUU leader warned that university autonomy and governance remain under threat, accusing governments of interfering in governing councils and vice-chancellor appointments. He also highlighted provisions for improved research funding, including plans to forward a National Research Council Bill proposing at least one per cent of GDP for research and development, stressing that “research funding is not a luxury; it is a necessity.”
CONUA President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, acknowledged progress but noted that the agreement involved only ASUU. He urged the government to conclude negotiations with other academic unions, saying, “There are other academic staff unions in the system, and CONUA is one… we have some issues yet to be resolved.”
Reacting, NANS said the agreement would promote academic stability but called for immediate implementation to avoid past pitfalls. “Previous agreements were stalled because of the dilly-dallying in their implementations,” said NANS spokesman, Adeyemi Ajasa.
NAPTAN President, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, also described the agreement as an achievement, urging both parties to move forward. “The implementation should not be delayed,” he said, expressing hope that the deal would restore stability and predictability to Nigeria’s university system.