New University Pact Explained: Salaries, Funding & Academic Freedom
By ANITA KNIGHT
What the New FG–ASUU Agreement Means for Students and Lecturers
THE Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have signed a landmark agreement that could finally end years of instability in Nigeria’s public university system.
The deal, which comes after a 17-year cycle of strikes and negotiations, replaces the 2009 agreement and takes effect from January 2026. It is expected to bring predictability to academic calendars, improve staff welfare, and reduce the frequent disruptions that have frustrated students and parents alike.
Between 2009 and 2025, ASUU embarked on eight major strikes lasting about 1,200 days. These shutdowns extended graduation timelines, increased financial pressure on families, and contributed to declining academic standards.
Under the new agreement, lecturers will receive a salary increase of approximately 40 per cent, alongside improved allowances. Professors will earn ₦1.74 million annually in allowances, while senior lecturers and Readers will also benefit from revised payments.
Academic staff will continue to receive Earned Academic Allowances, covering postgraduate supervision, teaching practice, clinical duties, external assessment, and excess workload, among others. These provisions aim to improve motivation and reduce brain drain.
The agreement also addresses welfare beyond salaries. Professors will retire at 70 years with pensions calculated at 100 per cent of their annual salary. Female lecturers will enjoy six months of maternity leave, while male lecturers will receive two weeks of paternity leave.
For students, one of the most significant provisions is the introduction of a Stabilisation and Restoration Fund, through which the Federal Government will inject ₦30 billion into universities between 2026 and 2028 to improve facilities and infrastructure.
The pact further commits the government to establishing a National Research Council funded by at least one per cent of GDP, and to reviewing laws that limit university autonomy, including the JAMB, NUC and TETFund Acts.
While implementation remains the key test, stakeholders say the agreement offers renewed hope for a more stable and competitive university system.
