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The Federal Government and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have signed a new agreement granting non-academic staff in public universities a 35 per cent upward review of emoluments, expanded welfare benefits and improved career progression, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
The agreement provides that the new salary package will be computed using the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure II (CONTISS II) alongside the newly introduced Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA), with the latter serving as the mechanism for implementing the 35 per cent salary increase.
According to the agreement, CONTTA will cover professional association subscriptions, conferences and refresher training, ICT skills development and data support, as well as the purchase of professional documents, including Acts, gazettes, circulars and the Public Service Rules.
The allowance is also exempt from taxation under relevant tax laws.
The agreement further introduced enhanced responsibility allowances, with Registrars and Bursars to receive N70,000 monthly, Directors N50,000, Deputy Registrars, Deputy Bursars and Deputy Directors N40,000, Heads of Departments or Units N30,000 and Heads of Sections N12,500 monthly.
It also approved monthly field trip, teaching practice and industrial supervision allowances ranging from N6,750 for officers on CONTISS 1–5, N9,000 for CONTISS 6–12 and N11,250 for CONTISS 13–15.
Laboratory, workshop, studio, clinical and occupational hazard allowances were also reviewed to N20,250 monthly for officers on CONTISS 1–5 and N40,500 for those on CONTISS 6–15.
Similarly, Students’ Work Experience Programme (SWEP) supervision allowances were fixed at N6,750, N9,000 and N11,250 monthly for the respective grade levels.
Eligible staff working in laboratories, workshops and studios will also receive a uniform and protective wear allowance of N6,667 monthly, amounting to N80,000 annually.
The agreement retained existing provisions on excess workload allowance under the 2009 FGN–NASU Agreement, while payments of high-risk, call duty, shift duty and clinical hazard allowances will continue in line with the Employees’ Compensation Act, 2010 and relevant National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission circulars.
In a major career advancement provision, the agreement introduced sabbatical leave for NASU members on CONTISS 13 and above, subject to existing regulations.
To safeguard career progression for non-teaching professionals, the parties also agreed that Vice-Chancellors should refrain from appointing academic staff as Directors of units traditionally reserved for qualified non-teaching personnel.
The affected positions include Directors of Academic Planning, Information and Communication Technology, Works and Services, Physical Planning, Student Affairs, Sports, University Ventures and other similar directorates.
The agreement also established Implementation and Monitoring Committees in federal and state universities to oversee compliance.
The committees will include representatives of NASU, Committees of Pro-Chancellors, Federal and State Vice-Chancellors, the Federal Ministries of Education and Labour and Employment, the National Universities Commission and other relevant stakeholders.
In addition, the agreement provides for a review every three years to assess implementation and address emerging issues affecting non-academic staff.
It also contains a non-victimisation clause, guaranteeing that no union official or representative involved in the renegotiation process will face intimidation, discrimination or victimisation for participating in the negotiations.
The agreement takes effect from Jan. 1, 2026, and is expected to strengthen welfare, boost morale and improve service delivery among non-academic staff in Nigerian universities.
