The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive review of the remuneration package for academic staff of federal universities, following a new agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The approval is contained in an official circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) under the Presidency, dated Dec. 30, 2025, and signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Mr. Ekopu U. O. Nta, Esq.
According to the circular, the review follows the FGN–ASUU Agreement of Dec. 23, 2025, and covers earned academic allowances, responsibility allowances, postgraduate supervision, study grants, moderation and examination honoraria, among others.
The reviewed remuneration package is scheduled to take effect from Jan. 1, 2026.
Earned Academic Allowances (EAA)
The document, tagged Annex II, outlines revised rates for Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) payable only to entitled academic staff upon performance of relevant duties.
Under postgraduate supervision allowances, Lecturer I is now entitled to ₦30,000 per student per annum, Senior Lecturers ₦40,000, while Readers and Professors will earn ₦50,000 per student per annum, subject to a maximum of five students.
The circular, however, stipulates that Lecturer I without a Ph.D. shall not participate in postgraduate supervision and will therefore not qualify for the allowance.
Honoraria for postgraduate oral examination were also reviewed, with external examiners for Ph.D. theses now earning ₦147,000, up from ₦105,000, while Master’s external examiners will receive ₦112,000.
Industrial Supervision, Moderation and External Assessment
Allowances for industrial supervision, field trips and teaching practice were increased, with Professors and Readers now earning ₦140,000 per annum, while Assistant Lecturers and Lecturer I are entitled to ₦84,000.
For external moderation of programmes, undergraduate moderation for over 50 candidates now attracts ₦112,000, while postgraduate moderation for more than 10 candidates carries the same amount.
The allowance for external assessment of Readers and Professors remains unchanged at ₦200,000 per assessment, payable through budgetary appropriation.
Postgraduate Study Grants
The Federal Government also approved significant increases in postgraduate study grants per session.
For Sciences, Master’s students will now receive ₦490,000, while Ph.D. candidates are entitled to ₦700,000.
In Arts and Humanities, the grants were raised to ₦350,000 for Master’s and ₦500,000 for Ph.D. programmes.
The circular clarified that the grants exclude staff already on full fellowships or other study grants.
Responsibility and Excess Workload Allowances
Under responsibility allowances, Deputy Vice-Chancellors and University Librarians will earn ₦840,000 per annum, while Provosts, Deans and Directors are to receive ₦600,000 per annum.
Heads of Departments and Sub-Deans will now earn ₦300,000 annually, while allowances for timetable officers, hall wardens and advisers remain unchanged at ₦150,000 per annum.
Excess workload allowances remain unchanged, with Professors, Readers and Senior Lecturers earning ₦3,500 per hour, while other academic cadres earn ₦2,000 per hour, under the same conditions as the 2009 agreement.
Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and Professorial Support
In a continuation of the circular, the Commission also confirmed the approval of Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), attached as Annex I.
CATA comprises Journal/Publication, Learned Society, Conference, Internet Access and Book Allowances.
Additionally, the Federal Government approved a Professor Allowance of ₦1,740,000 per annum and a Reader Allowance of ₦840,000 per annum for academic staff on CONUASS 07 and 06, respectively, to support secretarial assistance.
Implementation and Enquiries
The circular was addressed to key government offices, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of the Civil Service, Central Bank Governor, Permanent Secretaries, and heads of federal agencies.
“All enquiries relating to this circular should be directed to the Commission,” the document stated.
The approval is expected to ease long-standing concerns over academic welfare and strengthen stability in Nigeria’s federal university system.
