Nigeria’s university system may finally see an end to its protracted industrial crisis, as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially accepted the Federal Government’s proposal for a 40 percent pay increase for academic staff. This significant development marks a crucial step towards resolving the long-standing disputes stemming from the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement.
The union announced on Wednesday that a fresh agreement was formally reached with the Federal Government on December 23, 2025. This agreement signifies the conclusion of the renegotiation process for the 2009 pact, offering a potential reprieve to students, parents, and scholars who have endured years of disruption.
Under the terms of the new accord, professors will receive pension benefits equivalent to their annual salary upon reaching the retirement age of 70. Furthermore, the agreement outlines the establishment of a National Research Council (NRC) tasked with funding research initiatives, committing at least 1% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to this vital sector.
This comprehensive agreement, effective from January 1, 2026, is slated for a review after a three-year period. The announcement was made via ASUU’s official Facebook page, signaling a new chapter in the relationship between the union and the government.
Key provisions within the agreement include the implementation of a more robust university funding model, with dedicated allocations for essential areas such as research, libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff development. It also emphasizes enhanced university autonomy and academic freedom, ensuring that academic leadership positions, like Deans and Provosts, will be held by professors.
The pact also explicitly states that there will be no punitive actions taken against any individual involved in the protracted struggle for better conditions. ASUU has urged the government to implement the agreement promptly and extend similar negotiations to other university unions to foster systemic stability.
The 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement has been a persistent flashpoint, profoundly shaping industrial relations within Nigeria’s public universities for over a decade. Its repeated resurgence as a point of contention has been driven by persistent challenges in its full and satisfactory implementation.
Central to these ongoing disagreements have been concerns over the welfare of lecturers, encompassing their salaries, allowances, and overall conditions of service. The broader issue of adequate and sustainable funding for public universities has also remained a critical element in the protracted negotiations.
ASUU has consistently voiced its grievances, asserting that successive administrations have failed to uphold the core tenets of the 2009 agreement. This alleged non-compliance has, according to the union, contributed to the deterioration of infrastructure, overcrowded learning environments, and a decline in academic standards across numerous institutions.
The unresolved issues embedded within the 2009 agreement have been a primary catalyst for frequent industrial actions, including prolonged strikes. These disruptions have severely impacted the academic calendar, affecting the educational progress of millions of Nigerian students and causing considerable distress to their families.
