After sixteen years of drawn-out negotiations, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government of Nigeria have finally signed a new agreement, bringing an end to discussions that began with the 2009 pact. ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, said that although notable progress has been achieved, several key issues affecting the university system remain unresolved and need urgent attention.
The agreement followed the work of the Yayale Ahmed–led renegotiation committee, which was inaugurated in 2024. It represents the first fully concluded and comprehensive negotiation process since the original talks chaired by the late Professor Gabriel Onosode at the National Universities Commission in 2009. Major elements of the new agreement include a 40 per cent increase in lecturers’ salaries, a structured framework for Earned Academic Allowances, the introduction of a ₦140,000 monthly allowance for professors, and commitments toward a Research Funding Bill for universities.
Despite the breakthrough, ASUU said some concerns are still outstanding. These include alleged interference with university autonomy, irregular appointment of vice-chancellors, and mismanagement of funds by certain university administrations. Although documents reflecting the 2025 agreement were formally presented at the event, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, warned that signing ceremonies would be meaningless if the agreed terms are not implemented within the specified timelines.
As ASUU and the Federal Government celebrate what they describe as a major milestone, attention is already turning to the demands of non-teaching university staff, whose unresolved grievances could become the next challenge for the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, and his team.
Source: https://ait.live/
