“We can finally sleep easy” — ASUU celebrates historic deal with FG as lecturers get 40% pay rise

After years of strikes, stalled talks and uncertainty in Nigeria’s university system, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has welcomed a landmark agreement with the Federal Government, describing it as a major relief for lecturers and public universities.

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made the remark on Wednesday in Abuja during the formal unveiling of the new agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the union.

According to details of the pact, academic staff in federal universities will receive a 40 per cent salary increase, aimed at improving welfare and addressing long-standing grievances over poor remuneration.

The agreement also raises the retirement age for professors to 70 years, with pensions now set at the equivalent of their final annual salary — a significant overhaul of the previous pension framework for academics.

In addition, the deal introduces a new funding structure for the university system, with dedicated allocations for research, laboratories, libraries, equipment, infrastructure development and staff training.

“We can now sleep at night over this new agreement,” Piwuna said, praising the Yayale Ahmed-led FGN/ASUU Renegotiation Team, Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa and other stakeholders for their roles in achieving what he described as an amicable resolution.

However, the ASUU president noted that some internal issues were still pending, while warning that government interference in university autonomy remains a major unresolved concern.

Despite this, the agreement is being widely viewed as a turning point that could usher in greater stability in Nigeria’s higher education sector.