The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to formally execute a proposed 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff in Nigerian federal universities, with the signing of an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) scheduled for next week.
According to a circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of all federal universities have been invited to witness the agreement-signing ceremony between the Federal Government and ASUU. The ceremony is slated for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Conference Hall of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Abuja.
The circular, referenced FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.11/Vol.V/82 and dated January 5, 2026, was signed by the Director of University Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, on behalf of the Minister of Education. It described the signing as a significant step toward fostering industrial harmony in the university system, enhancing teaching and learning conditions, and reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to sustainable development in the education sector in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Ministry emphasised that attendance at the event is mandatory for all invited Vice-Chancellors and Registrars, underscoring the importance attached to the agreement and its implementation.
The development follows reports that ASUU had accepted the Federal Government’s proposed 40 per cent salary increase, marking a major breakthrough in resolving the prolonged industrial dispute rooted in the 2009 Federal Government–ASUU Agreement. ASUU confirmed that a fresh agreement was reached with the government on December 23, 2025, effectively bringing to an end the renegotiation process.
Under the new agreement, professors will be entitled to pensions equivalent to their annual salaries upon retirement at the age of 70. The agreement also provides for the establishment of a National Research Council, which is expected to fund research with at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The agreement, which takes effect from January 1, 2026, is to be reviewed after three years. Other key provisions include an improved funding model for universities, dedicated allocations for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development, enhanced university autonomy and academic freedom, and the election of academic leaders such as Deans and Provosts, with eligibility restricted to professors.
In addition, the agreement stipulates that no staff member involved in the industrial struggle will be victimised. ASUU has urged the Federal Government to ensure prompt implementation of the agreement and to extend negotiations to other university-based unions to guarantee lasting stability in the university system.
The 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement has remained a longstanding source of tension between the Federal Government and ASUU, influencing industrial relations in Nigeria’s university system for over a decade due to persistent challenges in its full implementation.