After more than a decade and a half of negotiations, strikes and strained relations, the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have finally reached an agreement on the long-contested 2009 FGN–ASUU pact.
Confirming the breakthrough, ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, told LEADERSHIP on Wednesday that the renegotiated agreement was concluded on December 23, 2025, following intense engagements between both sides. The new deal is set to take effect from January 1, 2026, and will be reviewed after three years.
Professor Piwuna described the development as a major victory for Nigeria’s university system, ending a crisis that has dragged on for over 16 years.
Key highlights of the agreement include a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff and significantly improved pension conditions. Under the new pension arrangement, professors will retire at 70 years with pensions equivalent to their full annual salaries a long-standing demand of the union.
The agreement also introduces a new funding framework for universities, with clear and dedicated allocations for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development. A major reform proposal is the establishment of a National Research Council, which will fund research with no less than one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), aimed at boosting innovation and strengthening research capacity.
In addition, the deal strengthens university autonomy and academic freedom, promoting merit-based governance and democratic leadership. Deans and provosts, including heads of postgraduate schools, will now be elected, with only professors eligible to contest for such positions.
Importantly, the agreement guarantees that no ASUU member will be victimised for participating in the prolonged struggle that led to the renegotiation.
“Recall that the 2009 agreement was due for review in 2012, but that never happened despite repeated negotiations, strikes and threats of action,” Piwuna said. “After years of persistence, the efforts of our past and present leadership and members have finally paid off.”
He explained that the renegotiated agreement focuses on improving conditions of service, addressing chronic underfunding, enhancing autonomy and academic freedom, and implementing reforms aimed at reversing decay, curbing brain drain and repositioning Nigerian universities for national development.
Piwuna expressed optimism that the Federal Government would move quickly to implement the agreement, praising the renegotiation team led by Mallam Yayale Ahmed (CFR) and commending the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, for providing the final push that led to the deal.
He also called on the government to expedite negotiations with other university-based unions SSANU, NASU and NAAT to ensure smooth and fair operations across the university system.
The ASUU president concluded by thanking the Nigerian Labour Congress for its solidarity and applauding union members nationwide for their patience and perseverance throughout the long struggle.
