The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government have finalised renegotiations of the 2009 agreement, with the new deal set to take effect from January 1, 2026. The agreement focuses on the welfare of university lecturers and the funding of public universities.
ASUU confirmed the development on its official Facebook page, noting that the agreement was reached on December 23, 2025, after extensive discussions between both parties. The agreement is set to be reviewed every three years.
Chairman of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch of ASUU, Prof. Idou Keinde, also confirmed the agreement but said he was yet to receive detailed information. “Yes, I can say that an agreement has been reached, but I don’t have the details yet,” he stated.
Key provisions of the new agreement include:
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Salary Increase: Academic staff in Nigerian public universities will receive a 40% salary hike.
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Enhanced Pension Benefits: Professors will be entitled to a pension equivalent to their annual salary upon retirement at age 70.
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University Funding Model: Dedicated allocations will be provided for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff development.
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National Research Council: A new body is proposed to support research activities with a minimum of 1% of Nigeria’s GDP.
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University Autonomy & Academic Freedom: Greater independence for universities, including the election of academic leaders such as Deans and Provosts, with eligibility limited to professors.
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Protection for Staff: Assurance that no individual will face victimisation for participating in past industrial actions.
ASUU described the agreement as a major milestone after years of negotiations and industrial actions, highlighting its potential to improve the standard of education and research in Nigerian universities.
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