The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have reached a new agreement aimed at improving staff welfare and restoring stability within Nigeria’s public university system, approving a 40 per cent increase in lecturers’ salaries.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the agreement underscores President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted academic calendars and enhancing the quality of tertiary education. According to the minister, the president personally intervened to resolve long-standing disputes that have plagued the university system for decades.
Under the revised salary structure, professors will receive an additional ₦1.8 million annually, while academic readers will earn an extra ₦840,000 per year. The agreement also introduces a consolidated academic tools allowance designed to support research activities, academic publications, conference participation, internet access, and other professional needs. The allowance is expected to boost productivity and help curb the ongoing brain drain in the sector.
ASUU President, Chris Pinuwa, described the agreement as the outcome of a prolonged renegotiation process that began several years ago following repeated unsuccessful engagements with previous administrations. He noted that the deal addresses key issues such as conditions of service, funding, university autonomy, and academic freedom.
However, Pinuwa added that concerns over government interference in university autonomy remain unresolved and will require further engagement.
Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) welcomed the agreement, describing it as a significant milestone for the university system. The unions, however, urged the federal government to expedite negotiations with them, warning that delays could threaten industrial harmony across the sector.
The new agreement is expected to ease tensions in the university system and reduce the likelihood of industrial action, as stakeholders continue efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
