The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government have successfully concluded the long-awaited renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement, bringing an end to years of disputes over academic welfare and funding for public universities.
ASUU announced the development in a statement shared on its official Facebook page on Wednesday. The newly revised agreement is set to take effect from January 1, 2026, and will be reviewed every three years.
ASUU announced that a new agreement was reached on December 23, 2025, following extensive negotiations with the Federal Government.
“After years of delays, negotiations, and struggles, ASUU has officially concluded the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement with the Federal Government on December 23, 2025,” the union stated.
Under the agreement, academic staff in Nigerian public universities will receive a 40% salary increase, alongside substantial improvements to pension benefits.
Professors retiring at the age of 70 will be entitled to a pension equivalent to their annual salary. Additionally, the agreement establishes a new university funding model, allocating dedicated resources for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff development.
The agreement also proposes the establishment of a National Research Council to support research initiatives, allocating at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product to this purpose.
Additional measures include enhanced university autonomy and academic freedom, the election of key academic leaders—such as Deans and Provosts—restricted to professors, and a guarantee that no one will face victimisation for involvement in previous industrial actions.