- He noted that the pact is structured to reinforce safeguards for university autonomy
- Arabi described the Student Loan Scheme as a key policy designed to ease financial burdens on disadvantaged students
- He said the initiative is intended to ensure that qualified candidates are not denied university education due to lack of funds
The Federal Government has stated that the 2025 agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities is aimed at reinforcing institutional autonomy while promoting lasting stability in Nigeria’s higher education system.
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dasuki Arabi, disclosed this during a working visit to Yakubu Gowon University in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Tuesday, Eko Hot Blog gathered.
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In a statement issued by the BPSR’s Head of Strategic Communication, Aliyu Umar, Arabi explained that the agreement, scheduled to commence in January 2026, includes a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff, expanded research grants, and better severance packages.
He noted that the pact is structured to reinforce safeguards for university autonomy, stressing that successive governments have continued efforts to tackle long-standing challenges such as inadequate funding and governance inefficiencies.
According to him, federal allocations to universities have grown steadily, complemented by infrastructure support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and other government-backed programmes.
Addressing access to higher education, Arabi described the Student Loan Scheme as a key policy designed to ease financial burdens on disadvantaged students.
He said the initiative is intended to ensure that qualified candidates are not denied university education due to lack of funds, while also maintaining sustainability within the sector.
Despite advocating autonomy, Arabi emphasised the importance of accountability.
He said universities should retain control over academic and administrative matters to encourage innovation, but must still adhere to established regulatory standards.
He added that the introduction of a government-approved payroll platform across federal institutions was meant to promote transparency and ensure accurate personnel records.
The BPSR chief further observed that recent pay adjustments for senior lecturers and professors align with broader reforms aimed at strengthening the education sector’s contribution to national development.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, Hakeem Fawehinmi, affirmed the university’s willingness to collaborate with the BPSR in advancing reform initiatives.
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