The Nigerian government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are set to seal a landmark agreement on Wednesday, January 14 in a move to boost to industrial harmony and stability in Nigeria’s public university system.
The agreement-signing ceremony, scheduled for 11am in Abuja, was conveyed in an official invitation issued by the Federal Ministry of Education through its University Education Department and addressed to vice-chancellors and registrars of federal universities nationwide.
It is expected to cover key provisions of the new agreement, including a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff and significantly improved pension benefits.
Under the new pension structure, professors are to retire at the age of 70 on pensions equivalent to their full annual salaries, a long-standing demand of the union.
The deal also introduces a revamped university funding model with dedicated allocations for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development.
The circular, dated January 5, 2025, described the event as a significant milestone in the ongoing engagement between the Federal Government and ASUU.
According to the Ministry, the agreement showed the government’s commitment to promoting industrial peace in the university system, enhancing teaching and learning conditions, and ensuring the sustainable development of tertiary education in Nigeria.
It further aligned with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises reforms and stability in critical sectors, including education.
“I am directed to invite you to the official ceremony for the signing of the Agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), scheduled as follows: Date: Wednesday, 14 January 2026; Time: 11.00 am; Venue: Conference Hall.
“The event signifies a critical milestone in promoting industrial harmony, enhancing teaching and learning conditions in Nigerian universities, and reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of the education sector, in furtherance of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Kindly note that your attendance at the official ceremony is mandatory. Please accept the assurances of the Honourable Minister’s warm regards,” the statement said.
In December 2025, the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities concluded the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, bringing a long-running industrial relations crisis to an end after more than 16 years of stalled talks.
The agreement was reached on December 23, 2025, following intensive engagements between both parties, and is expected to take effect from January 1, 2026, with a review scheduled after three years.
The agreement also proposes the establishment of a National Research Council to fund research with a minimum of one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).