FG, ASUU seal deal on pay rise to end 17-year dispute

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have signed a landmark agreement that significantly overhauls the remuneration and welfare framework for university academics, in a move aimed at ending a 17-year industrial unrest.

It will be recalled that the government and ASUU prior this had been on and off negotiations table that began in 2009.

At the heart of the agreement, unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, is a comprehensive review of academic staff pay and allowances, approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.

A central provision of the agreement is a 40 per cent upward review of the emoluments of university academics in federal tertiary institutions.

According to the minister, the increase is designed to boost morale, improve service delivery, enhance global competitiveness, and curb the persistent brain drain that has plagued Nigerian universities.

The revised salary framework will consist of the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) alongside a newly consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA).

The government clarified that the 40 per cent review will largely be reflected through the CATA component, which is exclusive to university academic staff.

Under the agreement, the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance will cover essential professional expenses such as journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society memberships, and book allowances. These tools, the government noted, are critical to effective teaching, research, and international academic engagement.

By consolidating these provisions, the agreement seeks to directly support research output and teaching quality, rather than treating such needs as ad hoc or discretionary benefits.

Another major element of the agreement is the restructuring of Earned Academic Allowances. The nine categories of these allowances are now clearly defined, transparently earned, and strictly tied to duties performed.

They include enhanced provisions for postgraduate supervision, fieldwork, clinical duties, moderation, examination responsibilities, and leadership roles within the university system. The government said this approach promotes productivity, accountability, and fairness, while ensuring that payments are directly linked to measurable academic work.

For the first time, the Federal Government has approved a dedicated Professorial Cadre Allowance for senior academics. The allowance applies strictly to full-time Professors and Readers, recognising their expanded scholarly, administrative, and research responsibilities.

Under the new structure, Professors will receive N1.74 million per annum, equivalent to N140,000 monthly, while Readers will earn N840,000 per annum, or N70,000 monthly. The allowance is intended to support research coordination, academic documentation, correspondence, and administrative efficiency.

The Minister described the intervention as “structural, practical, and transformative,” noting that it would allow senior academics to focus more effectively on teaching, mentorship, innovation, and global knowledge production.

Government officials say the agreement lays a durable foundation for industrial harmony in federal universities by addressing long-standing remuneration and welfare concerns that have repeatedly disrupted academic calendars.

Dr Alausa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to faithful implementation of the agreement and sustained engagement with stakeholders, describing the pact as a decisive step towards resolving a two-decade-old crisis in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

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