The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have signed a landmark agreement aimed at ending a 17-year crisis that has repeatedly disrupted Nigeria’s university system. The accord, which takes effect from January 1, 2026, replaces the 2009 pact and seeks to restore stability, improve staff welfare, and safeguard academic standards across public universities. The prolonged conflict, marked by inadequate funding, unresolved welfare concerns, and frequent strikes, has negatively affected students, accelerated brain drain, and interrupted academic calendars.
According to The Guardian, ASUU had undertaken eight major strikes over the period, lasting a combined total of approximately 1,200 days. The 35-page agreement is structured into six chapters covering conditions of service, funding, university autonomy, academic freedom, and other critical issues, with a three-year review cycle. Stakeholders have begun scrutinising the agreement to assess its implications for lecturers, students, and the wider tertiary education sector in Nigeria.
Key provisions of the FG–ASUU 2026 agreement include:
Salary review – Lecturers’ salaries will be increased by about 40 per cent, alongside improvements in conditions of service.
Annual allowances – Professors are entitled to N1.74 million annually, while Readers on CONUASS 07 and 06 will receive N840,000 per year.
Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) – Academic staff are eligible for nine types of allowances, including postgraduate supervision; teaching practice, industrial supervision, and field trip allowances; honoraria for postgraduate oral exams; external moderation and assessment allowances for Readers and Professors; postgraduate study grants; call/clinical duty or hazard allowance; responsibility allowance; and excess workload allowance.
Retirement and pension – Professors will retire at 70 years, and retired professors in recognised public universities will receive pensions equivalent to 100 per cent of their annual salary.
Maternity and paternity leave – Female staff are entitled to six months of maternity leave, while male staff will receive two weeks of paternity leave.
READ THE FULL STORY IN THE GUARDIAN