The Federal Government has approved a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff of polytechnics following the signing of a new agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
The agreement, signed between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and ASUP, also approved the retirement age of Chief Lecturers at 70 years and introduced several new allowances and policy reforms aimed at improving staff welfare and strengthening the polytechnic system.
Details of the agreement indicated that the 40 per cent salary increase approved for all academic staff would be non-taxable.
The pact further stated that the new retirement age of 70 years for Chief Lecturers would take full effect upon gazetting by relevant authorities.
Under the new arrangement, responsibility allowances were also approved for academic administrators. Deputy Rectors and Deputy Librarians are to receive ₦588,000 annually, Deans ₦420,000, Deputy Deans and Directors ₦336,000, Heads of Departments ₦210,000, while Heads of Units and other designated officers would receive ₦105,000 annually.
The agreement also approved honoraria for external examiners, pegged at ₦84,000 for supervising between zero and 50 students, and ₦112,000 for student numbers above 50. External assessment of promotion papers for Principal and Chief Lecturers was fixed at ₦200,000 per assessor.
In addition, question paper moderation allowances were set at ₦50,000 for classes of one to 50 students and ₦80,000 for classes exceeding 50 students.
The pact also introduced excess workload payments capped at a maximum of 20 hours per month, with Senior Lecturers, Principal Lecturers and Chief Lecturers to receive ₦3,500 per hour, while Lecturer I and below would earn ₦2,000 per hour.
Provision was also made for postgraduate scholars, with a one-off book allowance approved at ₦450,000 for MSc students in science-related fields and ₦600,000 for PhD students, while non-science postgraduate scholars would receive ₦350,000 for MSc and ₦500,000 for PhD programmes.
The agreement further addressed long-standing structural issues within the polytechnic system, including the removal of the dichotomy between Higher National Diploma (HND) and degree holders.
It stated that the National Council on Establishment would expedite actions towards abolishing the dichotomy, while government would conclude arrangements to implement the dual mandate structure allowing polytechnics to award both National Diploma and Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degrees.
The pact also approved the introduction of postgraduate programmes, including M.Tech and Ph.D degrees, in polytechnics, while the Federal Ministry of Education was mandated to fast-track legislative processes on the dual mandate bill before the National Assembly.
On staff welfare, the agreement replaced the existing peculiar allowance of seven per cent with a Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) fixed at 40 per cent of CONPCASS.
It also provided for industrial exposure opportunities, allowing academic staff in relevant fields to undertake practical industry placements for a minimum of one year.
The policy directives contained in the agreement mandated all states to domesticate the 2019 Polytechnic Act and ensure effective functioning of Budget Monitoring Committees for implementing institutional needs assessments.
Other governance directives include enforcing maximum tenure limits for governing councils, setting minimum qualification requirements of HND or BSc for external council members, and fast-tracking the establishment of a National Polytechnic Commission.
The agreement further stipulated that whenever there is a general increase in public sector salaries and allowances, the remuneration of polytechnic academic staff would be correspondingly adjusted.
It also provided that the agreement would be reviewed every three years.
According to the document, the agreement takes effect from Jan. 1, 2026.
