The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Wednesday, unveiled a renegotiated agreement reached between the two bodies in 2025 from the 2009 agreement.
According to reports, is aimed at putting to an end to issues of industrial e action by the academic body.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony held at TETFund headquarters, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said a defining feature of the agreement is the approval of a new Professorial Cadre Allowance for senior academics at the level of full-time Professors and Readers in tertiary institutions.
He said the approval recognises the significant workload, administrative, scholarly, and research responsibilities borne by academics at these levels by virtue of their positions.
The allowances are structured as follows: ₦1,740,000 per annum (equivalent to ₦140,000 per month) for Professors; and ₦840,000 per annum (equivalent to ₦70,000 per month) for Readers.
He said: “For decades, unresolved remuneration concerns, welfare gaps, and recurring industrial disputes disrupted academic calendars, undermined staff morale, and threatened the future of our young people. Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we deliberately chose dialogue over discord, reform over delay, and resolution over rhetoric.
“The agreement provides for the review of the remuneration package of academic staff in Federal Tertiary Institutions, as approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), with effect from 1st January 2026. The Emolument of University Academic is reviewed upward by 40% to enhance morale, improve quality of service delivery and global competitiveness of Nigerian Tertiary Educational institutions, while reversing Brain Drain.
“The Salary Structure will comprise Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) and the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowances (CATA). The 40% review will be represented by consolidated academic tools allowance and is peculiar to university academic staff. The CATA cover journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society membership, and book allowances, which are critical tools required for effective teaching, research, and global academic competitiveness.
“Earned Academic Allowances, nine in number, are now clearly structured, transparently earned, and strictly tied to duties performed, thereby promoting productivity, accountability, and fairness.
“This group of allowances also consists of enhanced provisions for postgraduate supervision, fieldwork, clinical duties, moderation, examination responsibilities, and leadership roles within the tertiary education system.”
The minister further said: “For the first time, the Federal Government has approved a new Professorial Cadre Allowance. This allowance applies to senior academics at the level of full-time Professors and Readers in our tertiary institutions. Let me emphasise clearly that this allowance applies strictly to full-time, and not part-time, Professors and Readers.
“This approval recognises the significant workload, administrative, scholarly, and research responsibilities borne by academics at these levels by virtue of their positions. The allowance is structured as follows: ₦1,740,000 per annum — equivalent to ₦140,000 per month — for Professors; and ₦840,000 per annum — equivalent to ₦70,000 per month — for Readers.
“This allowance is specifically designed to support research coordination, academic documentation, correspondence, and administrative efficiency—thereby enabling our scholars to focus more effectively on teaching, innovation, mentorship, and global knowledge production. This intervention is not cosmetic. It is structural, practical, and transformative.
“The total support, direction, and guidance of Mr. President, we confronted what many had described as an intractable problem—and we have resolved it decisively, now and into the future. This administration did not shy away from complexity; we confronted it squarely. Through sustained engagement, fiscal realism, and mutual respect, we have laid a durable foundation for industrial harmony in our Federal Tertiary Educational Institutions.
“This agreement ushers in a new era of stability, dignity, and excellence for Nigeria’s tertiary education system. It restores confidence to our lecturers, predictability to academic calendars, and hope to millions of students and parents across the country. I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to faithful implementation, continuous engagement, and sustained reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“History will remember today not merely as an unveiling ceremony, but as the day Nigeria chose dialogue, transparency, fiscal realism, and strong presidential commitment as the pathway to resolving long-standing governance challenges and achieving sustained progress. May this agreement strengthen our tertiary educational institutions, inspire our academics, and secure the future of our nation,” Alausa added.
…ASUU President
Speaking earlier, ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, said the 2025 Renegotiated Agreement is the outcome of a prolonged renegotiation process initiated in 2017 to review the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement, to revitalise Nigeria’s university system.
He said despite a successful collective bargaining between ASUU and the FG, there are still pending issues dragging the progress and survival of the university system, especially “government persistent encroachment into the autonomy of the universities.”
He said: “As we are here with joy for a successful collective bargaining between ASUU and the FG, we need to note that there are still pending issues, which are more of internal, that is dragging the progress and survival of the university system: government persistent encroachment into the autonomy of the universities. University autonomy is universally recognised as a cornerstone of a functional higher education system. In Nigeria, although university autonomy is recognised in principle and partially entrenched in law, its practical implementation remains weak.
“The Governing Council is legally the highest decision-making body of a Nigerian university, responsible for policy direction, financial oversight, and appointment of principal officers. In practice, however, councils are often subordinated to the whims of government authorities. A recurring problem is the arbitrary dissolution or suspension of governing councils by the Federal or State Governments and the reckless intervention in the appointment of the Vice Chancellors. Such actions send a clear message that councils exist at the pleasure of government, not as independent statutory bodies.
“There have been instances where: Governing councils’ recommendations were rejected by the Visitor/Ministry. Preferred candidates were imposed despite not emerging as the best-ranked by selection panels. Appointment processes are often skewed to favour political interests. Such interventions erode meritocracy and create legitimacy crises for appointed Vice-Chancellors, often leading to prolonged internal conflicts, litigation, and staff polarisation. This does not speak well of what the university stands for. We have also observed a culture of acting vice chancellors slowly creeping into the system.”
…Research Bill underway
Continuing, the union said: “Perhaps, it is time for Mallam Yayale Ahmed to turn his search light on his committee members, Pro Chancellors and members of governing councils. Sir, some of your committee members are destroying our Universities. Research funding is not a luxury but a necessity for any university that seeks relevance, excellence, and societal impact. A university without strong research funding risks becoming a mere teaching institution, disconnected from innovation, policy influence, and national development.
“Nigerian universities have faced paucity of research funding for a very long time, and I’m glad that research and development funding is a component of the 2025 ASUU-FG renegotiated agreement. It was agreed that the National Research Council (NRC) Bill shall be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration. The proposed Bill shall provide for at least 1% equivalent of GDP as a source of funding for research, innovation, and development. It is my belief that, as stakeholders, the members of the National Assembly will expedite action in the passing of the Bill.
“We call on the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the senate, to return to that bill and give it accelerated hearing. The entire nation awaits your intervention, which we will consider your role towards the implementation of the Federal Government – ASUU 2025, Agreement. For countries aspiring to knowledge-driven economies, sustained investment in university research funding is non-negotiable. This calls for legislative contributions from the national assembly.
“At the end of every struggle, the media will always erroneously report that the Federal Government has released funds to ASUU. It is obvious that ASUU’s influence sometimes creates a paradox: It pushes for proper funding, but once funds arrive, there are limited institutional mechanisms for the union to enforce accountability beyond strikes, petitions, and public statements. This creates a situation where funding battles are won, but resource efficiency battles are lost.
“Across our universities, there are repeated documented instances where vice chancellors (VCs) have been accused of mismanaging public resources, ranging from alleged corruption and contract irregularities to financial recklessness. These cases are not isolated anecdotes but mirror deeper governance weaknesses in the sector — where autonomy, accountability, and administrative culture intersect with personal conduct and institutional oversight. Our universities are now run by consultants! It has become a clean way of “cleansing” funds fought for by our Union. The federal ministry is not innocent of the “Consultancy Syndrome” in government cycles.
“Unfortunately, many councils are themselves politicised and compromised, making them ineffective watchdogs. The councils need to be seen performing their responsibility as watchdogs. The management of the universities should not create a situation where the Nigerian university system does not suffer from a lack of voices demanding money but from a lack of institutions enforcing responsibility. It is important to effectively utilise university funds.”
“The university teachers noted that some Federal Colleges of Education were recently converted to the Federal University of Education recently, and chief lecturers converted to professors without due process.
“We are optimistic that the agreement will be implemented in totality by the Federal Government, but there still exists that pessimistic side, looking at our history with the government and the poverty of sincerity. It is our belief that the union would not need to issue a strike threat for the full implementation of the 2025 ASUU-FGN Renegotiated Agreement,” ASUU further said.
…FG assures
Speaking earlier, Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, said the federal government will continue to embrace dialogue with academic bodies to forestall strike actions, saying the Tinubu administration remained committed to the welfare of Nigerians, especially students.
Similarly, the Chairman Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse, said the National Assembly will continue to support ASUU and academic bodies with legal frameworks to ensure the quality education of Nigerian students.