The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government have concluded the long-awaited renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement, with both parties reaching a new deal on December 23, 2025.
ASUU disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, noting that the agreement will take effect from January 1, 2026, and will be subject to review every three years.
Under the renegotiated agreement, academic staff in public universities are to receive a 40 per cent salary increase, alongside significantly improved pension benefits. Professors, according to the new terms, will earn pensions equivalent to their annual salary upon retirement at the statutory age of 70.
The agreement also introduces a revised funding framework for public universities, providing dedicated allocations for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff development.
A National Research Council (NRC) is proposed to coordinate and fund research nationwide, with a minimum allocation of one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.
Other key provisions include strengthened university autonomy and academic freedom, as well as the election of academic leaders such as deans and provosts, positions reserved exclusively for professors.
The agreement further guarantees that no individual will be victimised for participating in past industrial actions linked to the renegotiation process.
ASUU leadership welcomed the conclusion of the talks, describing it as a major step towards revitalising Nigeria’s university system. The union, however, urged the Federal Government to ensure prompt and full implementation of the agreement to avoid a repeat of past delays.
ASUU also called on the government to extend similar negotiations to other university-based unions, stressing that comprehensive engagement is necessary to ensure lasting stability and improved standards across the nation’s higher education sector.
The renegotiation brings to a close years of negotiations, delays, and industrial disputes surrounding the 2009 agreement, which has been a central issue in recurrent strikes within Nigeria’s public universities.
