The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has begun implementing key welfare provisions of its renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, including salary-related allowances.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade.
According to the statement, the implementation reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to agreements reached with stakeholders in the education sector and to sustaining industrial harmony in public universities.
The statement noted that the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced that the government had commenced the 40 per cent increase in the Consolidated Academic Allowance for ASUU members, effective from January 1, 2026.
The ministry confirmed that some federal universities have already begun reflecting the approved increase in salary payments.
It added that steps were being taken to ensure uniform implementation across all federal universities, with institutions formally notified to integrate the increment into their payroll systems so that eligible academic staff benefit accordingly.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, has announced that the Federal Government has fulfilled its obligation to implement the 40 per cent increase in the Consolidated Academic Allowance for ASUU members, with effect from 1st January 2026, in line with the agreement reached with the union.
“Some federal universities have already begun reflecting the approved increase in their salary payments.
“To ensure uniform implementation nationwide, all Federal Universities are being formally notified to fully cascade the approved increment across their institutions and integrate it into their payroll structures so that all eligible academic staff benefit accordingly,” the statement read in part.
Alausa also directed vice chancellors to ensure strict compliance with the framework for implementing the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance.
In the directive, he stressed the importance of prudent financial management, urging them “to make judicious use of available resources to ensure the successful rollout of the allowance.”
The minister further clarified that “the payment has already been captured and circularised by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, and that its inclusion in the 2026 budget is a formal statutory process.”
He called on university managements to take proactive steps to facilitate prompt payment of the allowance in line with NSIWC guidelines, noting that “timely implementation of both the CAA increase and CATA will strengthen the academic environment, enhance staff morale, and support improved outcomes in teaching, research, and learning across Nigerian universities.”
FG reiterated its resolve to honour agreements with education sector stakeholders and reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement, transparency and the continuous improvement of quality education nationwide.
Last month, FG and ASUU unveiled a renegotiated agreement aimed at resolving long-standing disputes in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
The 2025 agreement was the conclusion of a renegotiation process that began in 2017 to review the 2009 FG–ASUU pact, which was due for revision in 2012. Several committees set up under past administrations, chaired by Wale Babalakin, Munzali Jibrin and Nimi Briggs, failed to deliver a final agreement.
The breakthrough came under the current administration, which inaugurated the Yayale Ahmed-led renegotiation committee in October 2024.
An agreement was reached about 14 months later, focusing on improved conditions of service, funding, university autonomy, academic freedom and broader reforms to reverse sectoral decay, curb brain drain and reposition universities for national development.
A major provision of the agreement is the upward review of the remuneration of academic staff in federal universities by 40 per cent, with effect from January 1, 2026.
Under the new structure, salaries will comprise the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary and a Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, which accounts for the 40 per cent increment.
The tools allowance is designed to support core academic activities such as research, journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society membership and book procurement, with the broader objective of boosting productivity and curbing brain drain.
The agreement also restructures nine earned academic allowances to promote transparency and fairness by tying payments strictly to duties performed.
These include postgraduate supervision, fieldwork, clinical responsibilities, examination duties and leadership roles within the university system.
In addition, FG approved a new Professorial Cadre Allowance for senior academics for the first time. Under this provision, full-time Professors will receive ₦1.74m annually, while Readers will earn ₦840,000 per annum — an intervention described by the government as a structural and transformative measure to recognise experience, enhance dignity and strengthen the academic profession.
Credit: punchng.com
