The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Wednesday put to pen the renegotiated agreement to boost tertiary education in the country, with university lecture getting pay rise of 40 per cent.
The landmark agreement also signalled improvement in earnings and welfare of lecturer as the package equally introduced new monthly allowances for senior scholars.
At the unveiling in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa said the new pay regime is scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026, saying that the regime is a comprehensive overhaul of the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONUASS), alongside the introduction of enhanced and clearly defined allowances designed to improve lecturers’ welfare, productivity and global competitiveness.
According to the minister, the occasion represents far more than the unveiling of a document as it symbolizes renewed trust, restored confidence, and a decisive turning point in the history of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
"Today’s agreement is a clear, deliberate, and unprecedented demonstration of the commitment of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to quality, accessible, and uninterrupted academic calendars for all Nigerian students in our tertiary institutions.
"Mr. President’s benevolence, courage, and conviction are unmistakably evident throughout this process,' he noted even as he explained the key components of the agreement to include that the Emolument of University Academic be reviewed upward by 40% to enhance morale, improve quality of service delivery and global competitiveness of Nigerian Tertiary Educational institutions, while reversing Brain Drain syndrome.
On the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) and Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), the minister said that the Salary Structure will comprise CONUASS and CATA.
"The 40% review will be represented by consolidated academic tools allowance and is peculiar to university academic staff.
"The Consolidated Academic Tools Allowances cover journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society membership, and book allowances, which are critical tools required for effective teaching, research, and global academic competitiveness."
On earned academic allowances, Aluasa said these allowances, nine in number, are now clearly structured, transparently earned, and strictly tied to duties performed, thereby promoting productivity, accountability, and fairness.
'This group of allowances also consists of enhanced provisions for postgraduate supervision, fieldwork, clinical duties, moderation, examination responsibilities, and leadership roles within the tertiary education system."
On Professorial Cadre Allowance, he emphasized a defining feature of the agreement as one that directly responds to the daily operational realities of senior academics.
"For the first time, the Federal Government has approved a new Professorial Cadre Allowance. This allowance applies to senior academics at the level of full-time Professors and Readers in our tertiary institutions.
"Let me emphasize clearly that this allowance applies strictly to full-time, and not part-time, Professors and Readers.
This approval recognizes the significant workload, administrative, scholarly, and research responsibilities borne by academics at these levels by virtue of their positions.The allowance is structured as follows:
₦1,740,000 per annum — equivalent to ₦140,000 per month — for Professors; and
₦840,000 per annum — equivalent to ₦70,000 per month — for Readers.
"This allowance is specifically designed to support research coordination, academic documentation, correspondence, and administrative efficiency—thereby enabling our scholars to focus more effectively on teaching, innovation, mentorship, and global knowledge production.
"This intervention is not cosmetic. It is structural, practical, and transformative," he stressed.
On her part, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, described the deal as a renewal of trust between the Federal Government and the academic community rather than merely the end of negotiations.
"The process that has culminated in today’s agreement was driven by sincerity, patience, and a shared understanding that while differences may arise, they can and must be resolved through constructive engagement.
" I commend the leadership of ASUU and the government negotiation team under the leadership of Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, CFR, for demonstrating maturity, patriotism, and a focus on the greater good throughout the engagement process.
This agreement signals a renewed phase of trust-building and cooperation.
"It is our collective expectation that its faithful implementation will contribute to industrial harmony, improved working conditions for academic staff, enhanced teaching and research outcomes, and a more predictable academic calendar for our students and their families.
"As we proceed to the formal signing, let us all be guided by the spirit of partnership that brought us here. The task ahead requires sustained dialogue, accountability, and shared ownership of outcomes. Government remains open to continuous engagement, just as we count on all stakeholders to play their respective roles responsibly."
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Pinuwa, raised the issue of accountability, stability and academic standards in the system.
According to him, weak governance structures had continued to affect effective utilisation of resources in some institutions.
“Nigerian universities have faced paucity of research funding for a very long time, and I’m glad that research and development funding is a component of the 2025 ASUU-FG re-negotiated agreement.
“It was agreed that the National Research Council (NRC) Bill shall be forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration.
“The proposed bill shall provide for at least one per cent equivalent of GDP as a source of funding for research, innovation and development.
“It is my belief that, as stakeholders, members of the National Assembly will expedite action in the passage of the bill,” he said.