The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities on Wednesday unveiled a renegotiated agreement aimed at resolving long-standing disputes in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, resulting in incessant strikes and closure of universities.
The 2025 agreement is the conclusion of a renegotiation process that began in 2017 to review the 2009 FG–ASUU pact, which was due for revision in 2012.
Several committees set up under past administrations chaired by Wale Babalakin, Munzali Jibrin and Nimi Briggs failed to deliver a final agreement.
The breakthrough came under the current administration, which inaugurated the Yayale Ahmed-led renegotiation committee in October 2024.
An agreement was reached about 14 months later, focusing on improved conditions of service, funding, university autonomy, academic freedom and broader reforms to reverse sectoral decay, curb brain drain and reposition universities for national development.
A major provision of the agreement is the upward review of the remuneration of academic staff in federal universities by 40 per cent, with effect from January 1, 2026.
Under the new structure, salaries will comprise the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary and a Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, which accounts for the 40 percent increment.
The tools allowance is designed to support core academic activities such as research, journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society membership and book procurement, with the broader objective of boosting productivity and curbing brain drain.
The agreement also restructures nine earned academic allowances to promote transparency and fairness by tying payments strictly to duties performed.
These include postgraduate supervision, fieldwork, clinical responsibilities, examination duties and leadership roles within the university system.
In addition, the Federal Government approved a new Professorial Cadre Allowance for senior academics for the first time.
Under this provision, full-time professors will receive N1.74m annually, while readers will earn N840,000 per annum, an intervention described by the government as a structural and transformative measure to recognise experience, enhance dignity and strengthen the academic profession.
Speaking at the unveiling of the agreement in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the deal marked a renewed commitment by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to uninterrupted academic calendars and improved welfare for university lecturers.
According to him, the agreement goes beyond a formal document and represents “renewed trust, restored confidence, and a decisive turning point in the history of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.”
