FG, ASUU to Seal Agreement on 40% Salary Increase Next Wednesday
FG, ASUU to Seal Agreement on 40% Salary Increase Next Wednesday
The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are set to officially sign a landmark agreement on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, aimed at ending years of industrial disputes.
A central highlight of this pact is a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff across all federal universities. This agreement, which serves as a long-awaited renegotiation of the 2009 FG-ASUU Agreement, became effective on January 1, 2026, and includes a provision for periodic reviews every three years to ensure economic relevance.
Beyond the immediate pay raise, the agreement introduces significant welfare benefits and structural reforms for the academia. One major provision allows professors to retire at the age of 70 with a pension equivalent to their full final salary.
Furthermore, the pact seeks to revitalize the quality of education through the establishment of a National Research Council, which is expected to be funded by at least 1 per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Dedicated allocations will also be set aside for the modernization of libraries, laboratories, and staff development.
The agreement also places a strong emphasis on university autonomy and academic freedom. It mandates that leadership positions, such as Deans and Provosts, must be elected and restricted to the rank of professor.
Additionally, a “no-victimization” clause has been included to protect union members who participated in previous industrial actions from administrative retaliation. This shift is intended to foster a more democratic and stable environment within the Nigerian ivory towers.
The formal signing ceremony will take place at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) headquarters in Abuja, with mandatory attendance required for all Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of federal universities. The Federal Ministry of Education has described this milestone as a key component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. By addressing these long-standing grievances, the government aims to ensure a strike-free academic calendar and restore the global competitiveness of Nigerian tertiary institutions.
