The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally unveiled and signed the renegotiated 2025 Agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), marking a significant milestone in efforts to reposition the nation’s public university system and entrench lasting industrial harmony.
The unveiling ceremony, held in Abuja, brought together key stakeholders from government, labour, the legislature and the academic community, underscoring a renewed national commitment to dialogue, stability and sustainable development in higher education.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, described the agreement as a practical expression of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He said the pact provides a robust framework to prevent recurrent industrial action and guarantee uninterrupted academic calendars.
According to the Minister, the 2025 Agreement is the first to comprehensively align all critical components required for a functional, competitive and globally relevant university system within a single framework.
A major highlight of the agreement is a 40 per cent upward review of academic staff emoluments, effective from 1 January 2026, as approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. The increase will be implemented through the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, which covers research publications, conferences, internet access, professional memberships and books.
The agreement also introduces a Professorial Credit Allowance of ₦1.8 million annually for professors, while readers will receive between ₦840,000 and ₦870,000. In addition, academic allowances have been restructured and are now strictly tied to duties performed.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the agreement as a renewed covenant founded on dialogue, mutual respect and shared responsibility. The Minister of Labour and Employment, members of the National Assembly and ASUU leadership also commended the amicable resolution and called for faithful and sustained implementation of the terms.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel Olamuyiwa Enitan, reaffirmed the Ministry’s full commitment to ensuring effective implementation of the agreement.
The 2025 FG–ASUU Agreement is widely regarded as a landmark achievement, offering renewed hope for a stable, competitive and globally relevant Nigerian university system.
