- The ministry described the agreement as a major policy milestone aimed at restoring industrial peace in the university system
- Under the new deal, professors will be entitled to a pension equivalent to their annual salary upon retirement at age 70
- The union confirmed in December 2025 that it had reached a fresh understanding with the government
The Federal Government is set to take a decisive step toward easing long-standing tensions in Nigeria’s university system with plans to formally sign off on a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff, marking a major breakthrough in negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Federal Ministry of Education has summoned Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of all federal universities to Abuja for the official signing ceremony between the government and ASUU, signalling that implementation of the new pay structure is imminent.
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According to a circular issued by the ministry, the agreement will be signed on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at the Conference Hall of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in Abuja.
The directive, dated January 5, 2026, was authorised by the Director of University Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, on behalf of the Minister of Education.
The ministry described the agreement as a major policy milestone aimed at restoring industrial peace in the university system, improving teaching and research conditions, and reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to education reform in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Attendance at the signing ceremony has been declared compulsory for all invited university heads, underscoring the importance the government attaches to the agreement and its smooth implementation across federal institutions.
The development follows ASUU’s acceptance of the government’s proposed 40 per cent salary increase, a move that signalled the near end of a 16-year dispute rooted in the 2009 Federal Government–ASUU Agreement.
The union confirmed in December 2025 that it had reached a fresh understanding with the government, effectively concluding the prolonged renegotiation process.
Under the new deal, professors will be entitled to a pension equivalent to their annual salary upon retirement at age 70.
In addition, a proposed National Research Council will receive funding of at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product to support research and innovation.
The agreement, which takes effect from January 1, 2026, is expected to run for three years before a formal review.
Other provisions include improved funding mechanisms for universities, dedicated resources for research facilities and staff development, strengthened institutional autonomy, and enhanced academic freedom.
It also introduces elected academic leadership positions such as Deans and Provosts, restricted to professors, and contains a non-victimisation clause protecting staff involved in previous industrial actions.
ASUU has urged the Federal Government to implement the agreement promptly and extend similar negotiations to other university-based unions, warning that broader stability in the education sector depends on inclusive and faithful execution of the new framework.
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