ASUU, Federal Government Finalize New Agreement On Salaries, Pensions And University Funding
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government have reached a new agreement, bringing an end to the long-running renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement. The resolution marks a major milestone in addressing disputes over academics’ welfare and funding for public universities.
ASUU announced the development on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, confirming that the agreement will take effect from January 1, 2026, with a scheduled review after three years. The deal was finalized on December 23, 2025, following extensive negotiations between the union and government representatives.
Under the new terms, academic staff in public universities will receive a 40 per cent salary increase, alongside significantly enhanced pension benefits. Professors retiring at age 70 are now entitled to a pension equivalent to their annual salary.
The agreement also introduces a revamped funding model for universities, allocating dedicated resources for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff development. Additionally, a National Research Council will be established to oversee research activities, with at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product committed to funding research.
Other key provisions include strengthened university autonomy and academic freedom, the election of academic leaders such as Deans and Provosts restricted to professors, and assurances that no staff member will be penalized for participating in previous industrial actions.
