The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are set to formally seal a long-awaited agreement on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, following weeks of intensive negotiations aimed at stabilising Nigeria’s university system.
The signing ceremony, scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Conference Hall in Abuja, is expected to mark a major turning point in government–union relations within the higher education sector.
According to a circular issued by the Ministry of Education, Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of all federal universities have been invited to attend the event. The document, dated January 5, 2026, was signed by the Director of University Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, on behalf of the Minister of Education.
Titled “Invitation to the Ceremony for the Signing of Agreement Between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities,” the circular described the occasion as a crucial step towards restoring industrial harmony and improving teaching and learning across Nigerian universities.
The Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, confirmed the development, noting that attendance at the ceremony is mandatory for all invited university administrators, underscoring the importance attached to the agreement and its full implementation.
The deal is closely linked to the Federal Government’s proposed 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff, which ASUU accepted last month after years of protracted disputes. The salary adjustment, which takes effect from January 1, 2026, is expected to be reviewed after three years.
Beyond pay, the agreement introduces wide-ranging reforms. Under the new terms, professors will earn pensions equivalent to their final annual salaries upon retirement at the age of 70. It also provides for the establishment of a National Research Council, which will receive at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product to support research and innovation.
Additional provisions include improved funding for university libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development, increased institutional autonomy, and reforms in academic leadership. Only professors will be eligible to serve as deans and provosts, and academic leaders will be elected rather than appointed.
Importantly, the agreement guarantees that no university staff member will be victimised for participating in past industrial actions.
The Ministry of Education described the signing as a reaffirmation of the Federal Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of education, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Advertisement
