The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government have finally concluded the long-drawn renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement, bringing to an end years of protracted talks over lecturers’ welfare and the funding of Nigeria’s public universities.
ASUU disclosed the development in a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, confirming that the new agreement was reached on December 23, 2025, after extensive negotiations between both parties.
According to the union, the agreement is scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026, and will be subject to review after three years.
“After years of delays, negotiations, and struggles, ASUU has officially reached a new agreement with the Federal Government on December 23, 2025, concluding the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement,” the statement read.
Key highlights of the agreement include a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff in Nigerian public universities, alongside significant improvements in pension benefits. Under the new terms, professors who retire at the age of 70 will earn pensions equivalent to their annual salaries.
The agreement also introduces a new funding model for universities, with dedicated allocations for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development. To further strengthen research output, the parties proposed the establishment of a National Research Council to fund research activities with at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Other provisions include enhanced university autonomy and academic freedom, the election of academic leaders such as Deans and Provosts — with eligibility restricted to professors — and a commitment that no individual will be victimised for participating in previous industrial actions.
The development is expected to ease long-standing tensions between the government and university lecturers and improve stability within Nigeria’s public university system.
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