FG, ASUU reach Historic agreement to end strikes, improve university system

FG, ASUU reach Historic agreement to end strikes, improve university system

By Johnson Arua

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have reached a landmark agreement aimed at ending recurrent strikes and stabilising Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

The deal, unveiled yesterday in Abuja, promises improved welfare for lecturers, industrial harmony and uninterrupted academic calendars across federal universities.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the agreement as a historic turning point capable of restoring trust and confidence in the university system after decades of instability.

He credited President Bola Tinubu for personally intervening to resolve a long-standing crisis that had disrupted learning and undermined students’ hopes.

According to Alausa, the administration chose dialogue and reform over confrontation, stressing that the pact reflects a deliberate commitment to sustainable solutions under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He assured stakeholders of the Federal Government’s determination to faithfully implement the agreement.

Central to the deal is a 40 per cent increase in the salaries of university academic staff, approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.

The new pay structure combines the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) with an enhanced Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to support research, publications and professional development.

The agreement also restructures nine earned academic allowances, clearly defining and linking them to duties such as postgraduate supervision, fieldwork, clinical responsibilities and examinations.

In addition, the Federal Government approved a new professorial cadre allowance, granting professors N1.74 million annually and readers N840,000 annually in recognition of their academic and administrative workload.

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, described the agreement as a major step towards rescuing Nigeria’s troubled university system, though he lamented that it came after years of delay.

He noted that the deal addresses conditions of service, funding, university autonomy and academic freedom, all critical to reversing decay and curbing brain drain.

Piwuna, however, raised concerns about continued government interference in university governance, warning that arbitrary dissolution of governing councils and politicisation of vice-chancellor appointments threaten merit and stability.

He also welcomed provisions for improved research funding, including plans to forward a National Research Council Bill to the National Assembly.

Other academic unions welcomed the agreement with caution. The National President of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, said while the deal was commendable, the government must conclude negotiations with other unions to ensure lasting peace across campuses.

Students also reacted positively to the development. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) said the agreement would promote academic stability but urged immediate and transparent implementation to avoid a repeat of past failures that prolonged students’ time in school.

Similarly, the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) described the agreement as a significant achievement and called on all parties to prioritise implementation.

Stakeholders expressed optimism that the deal would usher in a new era of stability, predictability and excellence in Nigeria’s university system.