The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have unveiled a renegotiated agreement aimed at resolving long-standing disputes in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
The 2025 agreement is the culmination of a renegotiation process that began in 2017 to review the 2009 Federal Government–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.
The new pact was formally unveiled on Monday, January 14, 2026, at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) headquarters in Abuja in a ceremony presided over by Education Minister Tunji Alausa and Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad.
Speaking at the event, ASUU President Chris Piwuna expressed cautious optimism, saying, “We are optimistic that the government will implement this agreement in totality, but pessimism still exists because of our history.
“It is our belief that Dr. Tunji Alausa will be different, and that our union will not need to issue a strike threat before any part of this agreement is implemented. As you always say, you are open and accessible; ASUU is also open and accessible.”
Minister Alausa described the renegotiated pact as a “decisive turning point” for Nigeria’s tertiary education system. He also praised President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to ensuring quality education and maintaining an uninterrupted academic calendar.
“This occasion represents far more than the presentation of a document; it symbolises renewed trust, restored confidence, and a decisive turning point in the history of Nigeria’s tertiary education system,” Alausa said.
The agreement marks the end of a 16-year stalemate and brings hope that public universities may now experience greater stability, giving students and lecturers alike a chance to focus on teaching, learning, and research without recurrent disruptions.
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40% salary increase, new allowance for professors – 7 Key Things to Know About New FG Agreement with ASUU
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14-01-2026
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The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have unveiled a renegotiated agreement aimed at resolving long-standing disputes in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
The 2025 agreement is the culmination of a renegotiation process that began in 2017 to review the 2009 Federal Government–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.
The new pact was formally unveiled on Monday, January 14, 2026, at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) headquarters in Abuja in a ceremony presided over by Education Minister Tunji Alausa and Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad.
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Speaking at the event, ASUU President Chris Piwuna expressed cautious optimism, saying, “We are optimistic that the government will implement this agreement in totality, but pessimism still exists because of our history.
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“It is our belief that Dr. Tunji Alausa will be different, and that our union will not need to issue a strike threat before any part of this agreement is implemented. As you always say, you are open and accessible; ASUU is also open and accessible.”
Minister Alausa described the renegotiated pact as a “decisive turning point” for Nigeria’s tertiary education system. He also praised President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to ensuring quality education and maintaining an uninterrupted academic calendar.
“This occasion represents far more than the presentation of a document; it symbolises renewed trust, restored confidence, and a decisive turning point in the history of Nigeria’s tertiary education system,” Alausa said.
The agreement marks the end of a 16-year stalemate and brings hope that public universities may now experience greater stability, giving students and lecturers alike a chance to focus on teaching, learning, and research without recurrent disruptions.
Here are the key things to know about the new FG agreement with ASUU
1. Lecturers’ salaries will increase by 40%
According to the Education minister, key provisions of the new agreement include a 40 per cent upward review of the emoluments of university academic staff, which he said was aimed at improving welfare, enhancing service delivery, and addressing brain drain.
Under the new structure, academics will be paid through a combination of existing salary frameworks and a consolidated academic tools allowance, which accounts for the 40 per cent review.
He explained that academic staff would be remunerated under two components: the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) and the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA).
According to him, the CATA is meant to cover essential academic needs such as journal publications, conference attendance, internet access, membership of professional bodies, and book allowances.
The minister added that the agreement also introduced, for the first time, a “professorial cadre allowance” for full-time professors and senior academic leaders.
Under the newly introduced professorial cadre allowance, full professors will earn N1.7 million per year, while academics at the rank of Reader will receive N840,000 annually.
Alausa stressed that the allowance recognised the heavy administrative, scholarly, and research responsibilities borne by academics at that level and did not apply to part-time staff.
“For the first time, the FG has approved a new professorial cadre allowance that apply to senior academics at the level of full-time professors and leaders in our tertiary institutions.
Minister Alausa stressed that this allowance acknowledges the heavy administrative, scholarly, and research responsibilities of senior academics. He also clarified that the allowance applies only to full-time staff, not part-time professors or academic leaders.
“Let me emphasise clearly that these allowances apply strictly to full-time and not part-time professors and leaders.
“This approval recognises the significant workload, administrative, scholarly and research responsibilities borne by academics at this level by virtue of their profession and positions as professors or leaders in our universities,” he said.
According to the agreements reached, professors are now to earn a pension equivalent to their annual salary at retirement at the age of 70.
Furthermore, the agreement proposes the establishment of a National Research Council (NRC), to be funded with at least 1% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The council is expected to coordinate and drive cutting-edge research critical to national innovation and economic growth.
The agreement, which officially took effect on January 1, 2026, will be reviewed after three years.
It is important to note that the pact also includes a revised funding model with dedicated allocations for the rehabilitation of laboratories, libraries, and equipment.
JAC hails FG-ASUU agreement
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has congratulated the ASUU on the signing of a new agreement with the Federal Government, calling the development a crucial milestone for industrial harmony in Nigeria’s university system.
In a statement signed by Prince Peters A. Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU, and Comrade Mohammed H. Ibrahim, President of SSANU and Chairman of JAC, the committee described the agreement signed on January 14, 2026, as the culmination of what had seemed an elusive negotiation process
They commended ASUU for achieving improved working conditions for its members and urged the Federal Government to expedite similar renegotiations with NASU and SSANU without delay, warning that any stalling after the ASUU pact could “invite chaos” and undermine the industrial peace the non-teaching staff unions have striven to maintain.
The JAC emphasised that a timely conclusion of the ongoing talks with NASU and SSANU would stave off a breakdown of labour peace in the university system, urging the government “not to stir the hornet’s nest through any form of delay tactics.” “A stitch in time saves nine!” the statement concluded.