The Federal Government has unveiled a renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), describing it as a major breakthrough in restoring stability, trust and quality in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Presenting the agreement in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the deal underscored President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to accessible, quality education and uninterrupted academic calendars.
According to Alausa, the President took personal responsibility for resolving long-standing disputes that have plagued the university system for decades.
“For years, unresolved remuneration issues, welfare gaps and recurring industrial disputes disrupted academic calendars, weakened staff morale and threatened the future of our young people,” he said.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, we deliberately chose dialogue over discord, reform over delay and resolution over rhetoric.”
The minister explained that a central component of the agreement is the review of the remuneration package for academic staff in federal tertiary institutions, as approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, with effect from January 1, 2026.
He disclosed that the emoluments of university academic staff have been increased by 40 per cent to improve morale, enhance service delivery, strengthen global competitiveness and curb brain drain.
According to him, the increase is embedded in a consolidated academic tools allowance, which is unique to university academic staff and integrated into their salary structure. The allowance will cover journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society membership and book allowances—elements he described as critical to effective teaching, research and global academic relevance.
Alausa added that nine previously earned academic allowances have now been clearly defined, structured and tied strictly to duties performed to promote transparency, accountability and productivity.
He also announced the introduction of a new professorial credit allowance—the first of its kind approved by the Federal Government. The allowance applies to full-time professors and academic readers in recognition of their heavy scholarly, administrative and research responsibilities.
Under the new structure, professors will receive N1.8 million annually (about N140,000 monthly), while academic readers will receive N840,000 annually (about N70,000 monthly).
The minister said the allowance is intended to support research coordination, academic documentation, correspondence and administrative efficiency, allowing senior academics to focus more on teaching, mentorship, innovation and knowledge production.
He noted that implementation of the agreement has already begun, with the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission issuing a circular on December 30, 2025, directing full implementation of the wages component from January 1, 2026.
Speaking at the event, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Pinuwa, recalled that the 2009 agreement, which was due for renegotiation in 2012, suffered years of delays.
He said the 2025 agreement emerged from a renegotiation process initiated in 2017 to revitalise Nigeria’s university system, noting that several committees set up between 2017 and 2022 failed to produce a collective bargaining agreement.
According to him, progress was achieved after the current administration inaugurated a new renegotiation committee chaired by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed in October 2024, culminating in an agreement about 14 months later.
Pinuwa said the agreement addressed conditions of service, funding, university autonomy, academic freedom and other systemic reforms aimed at reversing decay, curbing brain drain and repositioning universities for national development.
He commended Ahmed and members of the renegotiation team, the Minister of Education and President Tinubu for their commitment to concluding the process.
However, while welcoming the agreement, Pinuwa said some critical issues remain unresolved, particularly persistent government interference in university autonomy.
“As we celebrate this successful collective bargaining, we must note that there are still pending internal issues dragging the progress and survival of the university system,” he said.
“University autonomy is universally recognised as a cornerstone of a functional higher education system. In Nigeria, although it is recognised in principle and partially entrenched in law, its practical implementation remains weak.”