In a historic move that signals the end of nearly two decades of academic instability, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) officially signed a comprehensive new agreement today, Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
The signing ceremony, held at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, effectively replaces the contentious 2009 pact. This new framework is designed to restore industrial peace, upgrade the quality of university education, and ensure an uninterrupted academic calendar for millions of students across the country .
A New Deal for Lecturers
The cornerstone of the agreement is a significant enhancement of the welfare package for academic staff. Presided over by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, the deal outlines several transformative financial and administrative reforms:
40% Salary Increase: Effective January 1, 2026, academic staff will receive a 40% upward review of their emoluments. This includes the implementation of the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) alongside a newly introduced Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA).
The "Professorial Cadre" Allowance: In a first-of-its-kind move, the government approved a specific annual allowance for senior academics. Full Professors will receive N1.74 million annually (approx. N145,000 monthly), while Readers (Associate Professors) will earn N840,000 annually.
Retirement & Pensions: The agreement grants a long-standing demand regarding the retirement of senior scholars. Professors who retire at the statutory age of 70 will now be entitled to a pension equivalent to their final annual salary.
Consolidated Allowances: The CATA will now cover essential academic needs such as journal publications, conference attendance, internet access, and book allowances, streamlining what were previously fragmented "Earned Academic Allowances" (EAA).
“This intervention is not cosmetic. It is structural, practical, and transformative,” Minister Alausa stated during the unveiling. “Today, Nigeria chooses dialogue over discord and reform over delay.”
Revitalizing Research and Infrastructure
Beyond personal welfare, the agreement addresses the systemic "decay" within the public university system. A major breakthrough is the commitment to establish a National Research Council, which is slated to receive funding equivalent to at least 1% of Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Furthermore, the pact guarantees increased funding for:
Modernization of libraries and laboratories.
Provision of state-of-the-art research equipment.
Continuous staff development and training programs.
The agreement also strengthens university autonomy, particularly in the governance of institutions and the election of academic leaders. This is expected to reduce political interference and allow universities to operate with greater administrative flexibility.
ASUU’s Stance: Cautious Optimism
The President of ASUU, Prof. Chris Piwuna, signed the document on behalf of the union. While he described the day as a significant victory for the struggle to save Nigerian education, he tempered his remarks with a call for "faithful implementation."
“We are optimistic that things will be different this time,” Piwuna said. “However, history has taught us to be cautious. We hope the government will implement this agreement in totality so that our union never has to issue a strike threat again.”
The negotiations were led on the government side by the Yayale Ahmed Committee, which had been working since 2025 to bridge the trust gap between the two parties. The breakthrough is being hailed as a major win for President Bola Tinubu’s "Renewed Hope" agenda, which prioritized ending the cycle of strikes that had previously kept students out of classrooms for months at a time.
A Breath of Relief for Students and Parents
For Nigerian students, the signing of this agreement brings an end to the "shadow of the strike" that has loomed over their degrees for years. Since the original 2009 agreement, the country has witnessed numerous prolonged shutdowns most notably the eight-month strike in 2022 that caused massive delays in graduations and fueled "brain drain" among both staff and students.
Key Financial Highlights of the 2026 FGN-ASUU Agreement
General Salary Increase
40% upward review
Professor Allowance; N1.74 Million / Year
Reader Allowance: N840,000 / Year
Pension for Professors: 100% of final salary (at age 70)
Research Funding: 1% of National GDP
2026 Fiscal Cycle
What’s Next?
With the ink now dry, the focus shifts to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and the Office of the Accountant General to ensure the new pay structures reflect in February payrolls. The agreement also includes a clause for a periodic review every three years to prevent the kind of 16-year stalemate that followed the 2009 pact.
As the ceremony concluded, the Minister of Education urged both parties to treat the document with "sincerity and transparency," promising that the government is fully committed to funding the future of the Nigerian youth.
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