…signs renegotiated agreement with ASUU
By Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Minister of the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa has announced the introduction of a new professorial credit allowance, which he described as the first of its kind to be approved by the federal government.
According to Dr. Alausa, the allowance applies strictly to full-time professors and academic readers in universities, in recognition of their heavy scholarly, administrative and research responsibilities.
He explained that under the new structure, professors would receive an additional N1.8 million per annum, amounting to about N140,000 monthly, while academic readers would receive N840,000 per annum, or N70,000 monthly.
The minister elaborated, that the allowance was designed to support research coordination, academic documentation, correspondence and administrative efficiency, enabling senior academics to focus more on teaching, mentorship, innovation and knowledge production.
The Minister made this revelation today in Abuja, at an event to unveil the renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
An agreement which he described as a turning point in restoring stability, trust and quality in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
During the presentation of the agreement, Dr. Alausa reiterated, that it reflected the commitment of the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to ensuring accessible, quality and uninterrupted academic calendars.
He said, ”For decades, unresolved remuneration concerns, welfare gaps, and recurring industrial disputes disrupted academic calendars, undermined staff morale, and threatened the future of our young people.
”Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, we deliberately chose dialogue over discord, reform over delay, and resolution over rhetoric.”
He explained that a key provision of the agreement was the review of the remuneration package of academic staff in federal tertiary institutions, as approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, with effect from Jan. 1, 2026.
Dr. Alausa stated that the emolument of university’s academic staff had been reviewed upward by 40% (percentage) to improve morale, enhance service delivery, boost global competitiveness and curb brain drain.
He said, “The 40% (percentage) review is represented through a consolidated academic tools allowance, is peculiar to staffs of academic universities and forms part of the salary structure.”
He further disclosed, that the consolidated academic tool allowance would cover journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society membership and book allowances.
Hence, describing it as essential for effective teaching, research and global academic competitiveness.
The minister said the government had already commenced implementation of the agreement, noting that a circular directing the full implementation of the wages component had been issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.
According to him, the circular, dated Dec. 30, 2025, was released to ensure the agreement took effect from Jan. 1, 2026, in line with the government’s commitment.
The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Chris Piwuna, during his presentation said that the 2025 agreement was the outcome of a renegotiation process initiated in 2017 to revitalise Nigeria’s university system.
He said that several renegotiation committees were constituted between 2017 and 2022 under successive administrations, including those chaired by Wale Babalakin, Munzali Jibrin and Nimi Briggs, but none produced a collective bargaining agreement.
He said the current administration inaugurated a new renegotiation committee chaired by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed in October 2024, noting that an agreement was reached about 14 months later.
He said the agreement focused on conditions of service, funding, university autonomy and academic freedom, as well as other systemic reforms aimed at reversing decay, curbing brain drain and repositioning universities for national development.
He commended Ahmed and members of the renegotiation team, Alausa, and President Bola Tinubu for their commitment to concluding the renegotiation process.
While expressing satisfaction with the successful collective bargaining process, Piwuna said there were still unresolved issues affecting the university system, particularly persistent government interference in university autonomy.
“As we are here with joy for a successful collective bargaining between ASUU and the federal government, we need to note that there are still pending issues, which are more internal.
“This issue is dragging the progress and survival of the university system: the government’s persistent encroachment into the autonomy of the universities.
“University autonomy is universally recognised as a cornerstone of a functional higher education system.
“In Nigeria, although university autonomy is recognised in principle and partially entrenched in law, its practical implementation remains weak,” he said.
