After years of agitation and tense negotiations, academic staff in Nigeria's public universities are finally on the cusp of a major financial uplift. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is poised to accept a landmark salary increase proposed by the Federal Government, marking the most substantial pay adjustment for lecturers in more than a decade.
From Ultimatum to Agreement: ASUU NEC Moves to Accept Offer
The breakthrough follows days of high tension and the expiration of a one-month ultimatum issued by the union. The Federal Government's proposed 40% salary rise has been under intense scrutiny, with ASUU's National Executive Council (NEC) meeting recently to deliberate on the government's final offer. An internal document signed by ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, indicates the union's willingness to accept the new salary regime, barring any last-minute changes.
The negotiations, facilitated by a team led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, successfully averted the threat of another disruptive nationwide strike. The government had extended meetings with union leadership to prevent academic disruption. According to reports, the NEC concluded that accepting the offer was in the best interest of its members, especially given the government's refusal to improve its final proposal and the risk of prolonging stagnant earnings.
New Salary Structure: A Breakdown for All Academic Ranks
The new remuneration package delivers substantial increases across all academic cadres, offering significant relief from years of inflation-eroded wages. Here is the detailed breakdown of the new monthly earnings:
- Graduate Assistants: Move from N170,000–N220,000 to N238,000–N308,000.
- Lecturer II: Will now earn between N350,000 and N420,000.
- Lecturer I: Salaries adjusted to N490,000 to N560,000.
- Senior Lecturers: Will receive N728,000 to N798,000.
- Professors: The highest rank will now take home between N1,190,000 and N1,330,000 monthly.
This adjustment directly addresses long-standing complaints from lecturers about stagnant wages and the increasing burden of living costs, research expenses, transportation, and housing.
Beyond Salaries: Key Agreements on Allowances and Autonomy
The deal between ASUU and the Federal Government extends beyond basic salary increments. Both parties sealed crucial agreements on several other persistent issues:
Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) will now be pegged at 12% of each university's annual academic salary expenditure. Furthermore, the agreement includes a scheduled three-year review of the entire remuneration package, and future general salary increases in the public sector will automatically apply to academic staff.
On the critical issue of university autonomy, both sides reaffirmed that the appointment of governing councils must strictly follow the Universities Act. They also agreed to end the trend of insisting on community indigenes as vice-chancellors, upholding established merit-based procedures instead.
To improve long-term funding for tertiary education, the parties agreed to pursue new tax-based initiatives. This comprehensive agreement reinforces the position of the Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who had insisted weeks earlier that the government had met key demands.
The resolution brings a sigh of relief to the university system, potentially ushering in a period of stability and improved welfare for the academics who form its backbone.
