After years of protracted negotiations and repeated industrial unrest, the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities have reached a fresh agreement that could ease tensions in Nigeria’s public university system.

According to The Guardian, ASUU has accepted the Federal Government’s proposal for a 40 percent salary increase for academic staff, marking a major step toward resolving disputes linked to the 2009 FG-ASUU Agreement that has shaped labour relations in the sector for more than a decade.

Agreement reached after years of talks

The union disclosed that the new agreement was formally concluded on December 23, 2025. ASUU said the deal brings the long-running renegotiation of the 2009 agreement to a close.

The announcement was made via the union’s official Facebook page, where it confirmed that the revised terms would take effect from January 1, 2026. The agreement is expected to be reviewed after three years.

For many students, parents and academics who have endured repeated strikes and disruptions, the development signals the possibility of greater stability in the university calendar.

Improved pay, pensions and research funding

Under the new terms, professors will be entitled to pensions equivalent to their annual salaries upon retirement at the age of 70. The agreement also includes a proposal for the establishment of a National Research Council to fund academic research with at least one percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

ASUU said the deal also addresses broader structural concerns within the university system. These include a new funding model that provides dedicated allocations for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development.

Other provisions include stronger guarantees for university autonomy and academic freedom, as well as the election of academic leaders such as deans and provosts, with eligibility restricted to professors. The union also stated that there would be no victimisation of members who participated in past industrial actions.

Background to the long-running dispute

According to The Guardian, the 2009 FG-ASUU Agreement has remained a recurring source of conflict between successive governments and the lecturers’ union. Although the agreement was designed to tackle critical issues in public universities, disputes over its implementation have persisted.

ASUU has repeatedly accused past administrations of failing to fully honour the agreement, particularly in areas related to salaries, allowances and conditions of service. The union has also raised concerns about chronic underfunding, which it says has contributed to decaying infrastructure, overcrowded lecture halls and declining academic standards across many institutions.

These unresolved issues have triggered frequent strikes over the years, disrupting academic activities and affecting millions of students nationwide.

Expert reactions and what comes next

Education analysts say the latest agreement could help restore confidence in the public university system if fully implemented. A Lagos-based education policy expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said consistent funding and adherence to agreed timelines would be critical to sustaining industrial peace.

However, observers also caution that past agreements have faltered due to implementation gaps. They note that the success of the new deal will depend on sustained political will and transparent execution by all parties involved.

For now, the agreement offers cautious optimism that Nigeria’s universities may be entering a more stable phase after years of uncertainty and disruption.