The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have signed a landmark agreement reviewing salaries and welfare packages for university academics, a move expected to bring an end to nearly two decades of recurrent industrial disputes in Nigeria’s public university system.
The agreement was signed and unveiled on Wednesday at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Conference Hall in Maitama, Abuja, in the presence of top government officials and ASUU leaders.
At the core of the agreement is a comprehensive overhaul of the remuneration framework for academic staff, approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026. The deal replaces the controversial 2009 agreement that had triggered repeated strikes over unresolved issues.
Under the new arrangement, university academics in federal tertiary institutions will benefit from a 40 per cent upward review of their emoluments. The increase will be largely reflected through a newly consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, designed to support professional and research-related expenses.
Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, explained that the revised structure integrates the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) with the Academic Tools Allowance, which will cover costs such as journal publications, conference attendance, internet services, book allowances, and membership of learned societies.
The agreement also restructures Earned Academic Allowances, with nine clearly defined categories now directly linked to specific academic duties. These include postgraduate supervision, fieldwork, clinical responsibilities, examination duties, moderation, and leadership roles within universities, a move the government says will promote accountability and productivity.
In a major first, the Federal Government approved a dedicated Professorial Cadre Allowance for senior academics. Professors will receive ₦1.74 million annually (₦140,000 monthly), while Readers will earn ₦840,000 per annum (₦70,000 monthly), to support research coordination, documentation, and administrative responsibilities.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, welcomed the agreement, expressing cautious optimism that the government would fully implement its provisions without the need for strike threats. He noted that while past experiences warranted some scepticism, the union hoped the new pact would mark a departure from previous failures.
Describing the agreement as “structural, practical and transformative,” Dr. Alausa said it signalled a turning point for Nigeria’s tertiary education system and reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to quality education and an uninterrupted academic calendar.
Government officials expressed confidence that the deal would lay a durable foundation for industrial harmony in federal universities by addressing long-standing issues that have repeatedly disrupted academic activities nationwide.
