FG, ASUU to Seal Agreement on 40% Salary Increases
The Nigerian government has completed preparations to implement the planned 40 percent pay hike for university lecturers, with an official pact set to be formalized between the authorities and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), according to reports from The Guardian.
A memo from the Federal Ministry of Education has summoned all heads and administrative officers of federal universities to participate in the signing event involving the government and ASUU.
The event is slated for January 14, 2026, starting at 11:00 a.m., in the meeting room of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) located in Abuja.
The notice, bearing the reference FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.11/Vol.V/82 and issued on January 5, 2026, was authorized by Rakiya Ilyasu, the Director of University Education, acting for the Education Minister.
The ministry states that this formalization marks a significant step toward fostering peace in labor relations within higher education, upgrading instructional environments, and demonstrating the government’s dedication to long-term progress in education. This move supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for renewed national advancement.
The memo stresses that participation is required for all summoned university leaders and administrators, highlighting the priority placed on the deal and its rollout.
“The gathering represents a vital achievement in encouraging workplace stability, improving educational delivery in Nigerian institutions, and confirming the government’s focus on advancing the education field sustainably, in line with the President’s Renewed Hope initiative,” the document states.
In the previous month, The Guardian disclosed that the prolonged 16-year labor dispute disrupting Nigeria’s higher education sector—stemming from the 2009 accord between the government and ASUU—was approaching a conclusion, as the union had agreed to the government’s offered 40 percent salary adjustment for lecturers.
ASUU revealed that a new deal was sealed with the government on December 23, 2025, effectively wrapping up the revisions to the 2009 agreement.
As part of the updated terms, retiring professors at age 70 will receive a pension matching their yearly earnings, and the intended National Research Council (NRC) will allocate at least 1 percent of the nation’s GDP to support research activities.
The pact takes effect from January 1, 2026, and is due for reassessment in three years.
Additional highlights encompass an enhanced funding framework with specific budgets for studies, library resources, laboratories, tools, and employee training; greater institutional independence and scholarly liberties; and the selection of academic heads (such as Deans and Provosts) limited to professors only.
It further ensures protection against reprisals for any personnel who participated in the advocacy efforts.
“The ASUU executives have urged the authorities to enact the terms promptly and to broaden discussions to include other university labor groups for overall sector steadiness,” the union stated.
The 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU has long been a major cause of friction, influencing labor dynamics in Nigeria’s universities for over ten years.
Initially designed to tackle pressing concerns in the field, the accord has frequently reemerged as a central issue in conflicts, primarily because of obstacles in achieving complete fulfillment.
