After 16 years of industrial unrest that paralyzed Nigeria's public universities, a significant breakthrough has been achieved. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has formally accepted the Federal Government's proposal for a 40 per cent salary increase for its members, signaling a potential end to the protracted crisis.
Details of the Landmark Agreement
The union's President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced that a fresh agreement was reached with the Federal Government on December 23, 2025. This development concludes the long-drawn renegotiation of the contentious 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement. The new terms are set to take effect from January 1, 2026, with a scheduled review after three years.
Key financial provisions include a pension plan for Professors equivalent to their annual salary upon retirement at the age of 70. Furthermore, a proposed National Research Council (NRC) is to be established, funded with at least 1% of Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to bolster academic research.
Broader Reforms Beyond Salary
The agreement, detailed on ASUU's official Facebook page, encompasses far more than just pay. It outlines a better university funding model with dedicated allocations for critical areas:
- Research initiatives
- Library resources and laboratory equipment
- Continuous staff development programmes
Other crucial highlights are the strengthening of university autonomy and academic freedom, and the stipulation that academic leadership positions like Deans and Provosts must be elected and filled only by professors. The union also secured a guarantee that there would be no victimisation of anyone involved in the prolonged struggle.
An End to a Protracted Struggle?
The 2009 agreement has been a persistent source of conflict, with ASUU accusing successive governments of failing to implement its key provisions. This failure led to deteriorating infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and declining standards, triggering frequent strikes that disrupted the academic calendar for millions of students.
While announcing the acceptance, ASUU leadership called on the government to implement the agreement without delay. They also urged the government to extend negotiations to other university unions to ensure comprehensive stability in the higher education system. For students, parents, and scholars, this agreement offers the first real hope in over a decade for sustained peace and progress in Nigeria's public universities.
