By Charles Maduka
The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities have reached a fresh agreement aimed at improving staff welfare and restoring stability in Nigeria’s university system, with a 40 per cent increase approved for lecturers’ remuneration.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the agreement reflects the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to uninterrupted academic calendars and improved quality in tertiary education. He explained that the president personally intervened to resolve long-standing disputes that have disrupted universities for decades.
Under the new structure, professors are to receive an additional N1.8 million annually, while academic readers will earn N840,000 per year. The revised package also includes a consolidated academic tools allowance to support research, publications, conference participation, internet access and other professional needs, aimed at boosting productivity and reducing brain drain.
ASUU President, Chris Pinuwa, said the agreement was the outcome of a renegotiation process that began several years ago after repeated failed attempts under previous administrations. He noted that the deal addresses conditions of service, funding, university autonomy and academic freedom, although he added that issues relating to government interference in university autonomy remain unresolved.
Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions welcomed the agreement with ASUU, describing it as a milestone. The unions, however, urged the federal government to fast-track negotiations with them, warning that further delays could threaten industrial peace in the university system.
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