FG–ASUU agreement: What was signed, why it matters

After 16 years of stalled negotiations and repeated industrial disputes, the federal government (FG) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have signed a renegotiated agreement aimed at stabilising the country’s university system, improving staff welfare, and addressing long-standing structural weaknesses.

The 2025 FG–ASUU agreement follows more than 16 years of recurring strikes, beginning with a four-month stoppage in 2009 that produced the original pact.

Repeated failures to implement that agreement triggered major shutdowns in 2010, 2011 and a six-month strike in 2013, followed by prolonged disruptions in 2017, 2018, a nine-month strike in 2020, and an eight-month strike in 2022. A two-week warning strike in October 2025 over unresolved demands reopened talks, culminating in the new agreement signed in January 2026.

The 2025 agreement replaces the 2009 FGN–ASUU pact, due for renegotiation in 2012 but left unresolved across several administrations, with all revised payments taking effect from January 1, 2026, following approval by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).

Read also: FG–ASUU agreement triggers debate over professors benefits

Why agreement is significant

The agreement marks the first time a sitting Nigerian President directly took ownership of the prolonged dispute and prioritised its resolution. Tunji Alausa, minister of Education, said the agreement is intended to restore trust, guarantee uninterrupted academic calendars, and end the cycle of strikes in public universities.

ASUU said the agreement is the outcome of a renegotiation process that began in 2017 and passed through multiple failed committees before the current administration inaugurated the Yayale Ahmed-led renegotiation committee in October 2024.

Salary Review: 40% Increase via CONUASS and CATA

A major provision of the agreement is a 40 percent upward review of academic wages in federal universities. Under the new structure, academic pay comprises: Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS); and Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA)

The 40 percent pay increase will be delivered mainly through the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), a university-specific allowance designed to cover the cost of teaching and research tools and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian academics.

Under the new structure, annual CATA payments by rank are as follows: Graduate Assistants receive about N1.04 million, Assistant Lecturers N1.22 million, Lecturer II N1.35 million, Lecturer I N1.75 million, Senior Lecturers N2.41 million, Readers N2.88 million, and Professors N3.79 million.

The Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) is designed to support the professional costs of university teaching and research. It covers expenses related to journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society membership, and books and other academic materials.

Earned academic allowances: Revised rates

Beyond CATA, the agreement restructures Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) into nine duty-based components, with higher and more clearly defined rates tied strictly to academic responsibilities.

Postgraduate Supervision Allowance (Paid from university IGR; maximum of five students)

Lecturer I: N30,000 per student per annum (up from N15,000)

(Lecturer I without PhD excluded)

Senior Lecturer: N40,000 per student (up from N20,000)

Reader/Professor: N50,000 per student (up from N25,000)

Industrial Supervision / Teaching Practice (Paid via federal budget)

Assistant Lecturer / Lecturer I: N84,000 per annum

Senior Lecturer: N112,000 per annum (up from N80,000)

Reader/Professor: N140,000 per annum (up from N100,000)

Postgraduate Oral Examination (Per Thesis)

External Examiner: Masters: N112,000, PhD: N147,000

Internal Examiner: Masters: N45,000, PhD: N65,000

Read also: FG, ASUU seal 2025 agreement, end 16-year renegotiation stalemate, approve 40% pay rise

External Moderation (Programmes)

Undergraduate (less than or equal to 50 candidates): N84,000

Undergraduate (more than 50 candidates): N112,000

Postgraduate (less than or equal to 10 candidates): N84,000

Postgraduate (more than 10 candidates): N112,000

Postgraduate Study Grants (Per Session), (Paid through federal budget; excludes staff on full fellowships)

Sciences: Masters: N490,000, PhD: N700,000

Arts/Humanities: Masters: N350,000, PhD: N500,000

New professorial cadre allowance

For the first time, the federal government approved a Professorial Cadre Allowance for full-time professors and readers only.

Professors: N1.74 million per annum (N140,000 monthly)

Readers: N840,000 per annum (N70,000 monthly)

The allowance supports research coordination, academic documentation, administrative duties, and mentorship responsibilities.

Responsibility Allowances (Annual)

Deputy Vice-Chancellor / University Librarian: N840,000

Provost / Dean / Director: N600,000

Deputy / Associate Dean or Provost: N480,000

Head of Department / Sub-Dean: N300,000

Other administrative roles retain existing rates, pending new NUC/NSIWC guidelines.

What is unchanged?

Excess workload allowance rates remain like they were in the 2009 agreement. Also, call duty, clinical duty, and hazard allowances continue under existing NSIWC circulars

Pension upgrade for professors

A major long-term welfare gain is the pension upgrade for professors, which allows them to retire at 70 years with a pension equal to their last annual salary.

Research funding and systemic reforms

The agreement also commits both parties to advancing the National Research Council (NRC) Bill, which proposes funding for research and innovation equivalent to at least one percent of GDP.

The 2025 FG–ASUU agreement is the most comprehensive overhaul of academic welfare since 2009, combining 40 percent remuneration review, with clearly defined duty-based allowances.

Education stakeholders have welcomed the agreement, describing it as a major breakthrough, while cautioning that its success will depend on faithful implementation and deeper reforms.

Speaking in an interview with TVC News, Peter Ogudoro, an education researcher, described the agreement as a great step forward for Nigeria’s education sector, urging Nigerians to acknowledge the political will behind it.

“We must find the humility and the graciousness to thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for empowering his representatives to make this happen,” Ogudoro said.

He said the deal could help reverse the worsening brain drain that has depleted Nigeria’s universities and weakened the country’s capacity to produce skilled manpower.

“This is going to stem the tide with respect to brain drain, which has been very terrible for the education industry, thereby threatening our capacity to produce the manpower we need to fast-track the governance of our country,” he added.

Ogudoro also pointed to tightening immigration policies and growing restrictions on international students in developed countries, arguing that Nigeria can no longer afford to neglect its universities.

“Even if you have the money, some of the best universities around the world may not be able to welcome you because governments are putting obstacles in the way of international students. That reality makes fixing our universities unavoidable,” he said.

However, he acknowledged lingering concerns raised by ASUU, particularly government interference in university governance and poor research funding, describing them as critical to long-term sustainability.

“The government has largely addressed welfare issues with this agreement, but if we want to improve quality, then we must improve research funding, infrastructure and technology. No nation solves all these problems in one day. This is a good starting point,” Ogudoro said.

On implementation, he urged the government to back the agreement with clear financing plans.

“The implications of this agreement must be reflected in a supplementary budget, so we don’t get to a point where the minister of finance says the money is not available.”

Unresolved concerns and outstanding issues

While welcoming the agreement as a major breakthrough, ASUU cautioned that several long-standing structural challenges could still test its durability if left unaddressed.

The union cited persistent government interference in university autonomy, the politicisation of governing councils, irregular appointments of vice-chancellors, and weak accountability mechanisms within university management as issues that continue to undermine institutional stability.

Christopher Piwuna, ASUU President, also pointed to specific unresolved disputes involving union members across several institutions.

These include the dismissal of five ASUU members at Lagos State University (LASU), the dismissal of between 105 and 108 members at Kogi State University, and alleged victimisation of ASUU members at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

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