The Federal Government has unveiled a renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, describing it as a turning point in restoring stability, trust and quality in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, at the presentation of the agreement in Abuja on Wednesday, said it reflected the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to accessible, quality and uninterrupted academic calendars.
According to the minister, the President took personal ownership of resolving long-standing disputes that had affected the university system for decades.
“For decades, unresolved remuneration concerns, welfare gaps, and recurring industrial disputes disrupted academic calendars, undermined staff morale, and threatened the future of our young people.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, we deliberately chose dialogue over discord, reform over delay, and resolution over rhetoric,” he said.
He explained that a key provision of the agreement was the review of the remuneration package of academic staff in federal tertiary institutions, as approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, with effect from Jan. 1, 2026.
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He said the emoluments of university academic staff had been reviewed upward by 40 per cent to improve morale, enhance service delivery, boost global competitiveness and curb brain drain.
According to him, the 40 per cent review is represented through a consolidated academic tools allowance, which is peculiar to university academic staff and forms part of the salary structure.
The minister said the consolidated academic tools allowance would cover journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society membership and book allowances.
He described this as essential for effective teaching, research and global academic competitiveness.
He added that nine hitherto earned academic allowances had been clearly structured, made transparent and tied strictly to duties performed to promote productivity, accountability and fairness.
He also announced the introduction of a new professorial credit allowance, describing it as the first of its kind approved by the federal government.
According to him, the allowance applies strictly to full-time professors and academic readers in universities, in recognition of their heavy scholarly, administrative and research responsibilities.
He explained that under the new structure, professors would receive an additional N1.8 million per annum, amounting to about N140,000 monthly, while academic readers would receive N840,000 per annum, or N70,000 monthly.
The minister said the allowance was designed to support research coordination, academic documentation, correspondence and administrative efficiency.
He said the government had already commenced implementation of the agreement, noting that a circular directing full implementation of the wages component had been issued.
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Pinuwaecalled that the 2009 agreement, due for renegotiation in 2012, experienced prolonged delays.
He said the 2025 agreement was the outcome of a renegotiation process initiated in 2017 to revitalise Nigeria’s university system.
Pinuwa said unresolved issues remained, particularly persistent government interference in university autonomy.
NAN
