After sixteen years of protracted negotiations, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have formally signed a new agreement aimed at improving the welfare and remuneration of university academics across the country.
The landmark agreement, which traces its roots to the 2009 pact, brings closure to a dispute that has resurfaced intermittently for over 16 years and often disrupted the nation’s academic calendar.
Under the new deal, academic staff in federal universities will receive a 40 per cent salary increase, effective from January 1, 2026. The agreement also introduces an improved remuneration framework built around the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) and an enhanced Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to support research, teaching, and professional development.
As part of the reforms, nine Earned Academic Allowances have been restructured to better reflect the responsibilities of lecturers, including postgraduate supervision, clinical duties, examination administration, fieldwork, and academic leadership roles. Professors and academic readers are also to benefit from special allowances recognising their seniority and contributions to the university system.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the agreement as a historic milestone capable of restoring trust, boosting morale, and repositioning Nigeria’s universities for global competitiveness.
ASUU leadership welcomed the development, stating that the agreement addresses long-standing concerns over conditions of service and provides incentives necessary for strengthening tertiary education in the country.
Education analysts have expressed optimism that the agreement will restore industrial harmony, stabilize academic calendars, and significantly improve the quality of university education nationwide
