The Federal Government has commenced the implementation of key welfare provisions contained in its renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), including salary-related allowances, in a move aimed at improving staff welfare and stabilising the public university system.
This development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade. According to the statement, the action underscores President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to honouring agreements reached with stakeholders in the education sector and maintaining industrial harmony across federal universities.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, announced that the Federal Government has begun implementing a 40 per cent increase in the Consolidated Academic Allowance (CAA) for ASUU members, with effect from January 1, 2026. The ministry confirmed that the increment has already been reflected in salary payments at some federal universities, while steps are being taken to ensure consistent implementation across all institutions nationwide.
The ministry stated that all federal universities are being formally notified to fully apply the approved increase within their payroll systems to ensure that eligible academic staff benefit accordingly. This, it said, is part of efforts to guarantee uniform compliance and avoid disparities in implementation.
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Dr Alausa also directed vice-chancellors to adhere strictly to the implementation framework for the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA). He urged university managements to deploy available resources prudently to ensure the successful rollout of the allowance, which is designed to support academic productivity.
The minister further clarified that the allowance payments have already been captured and circularised by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), adding that their inclusion in the 2026 budget follows a statutory process. He called on university authorities to take proactive measures to ensure prompt payment in line with NSIWC guidelines.
According to the minister, timely implementation of both the CAA increase and the CATA will strengthen the academic environment, boost staff morale, and enhance teaching, research, and learning outcomes across Nigerian universities.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement with education sector stakeholders, transparency in policy implementation, and continuous improvement in the quality of education nationwide.
The current implementation follows the unveiling of a renegotiated agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU last month, aimed at resolving long-standing disputes in the tertiary education sector. The 2025 agreement concluded a renegotiation process that began in 2017 to review the 2009 FG–ASUU pact, which was originally due for revision in 2012.
Previous renegotiation attempts led by committees chaired by Wale Babalakin, Munzali Jibrin, and Nimi Briggs did not result in a final agreement. Progress was achieved under the present administration, which inaugurated a new renegotiation committee chaired by Yayale Ahmed in October 2024. An agreement was reached about 14 months later.
The renegotiated pact focuses on improved conditions of service, enhanced funding, university autonomy, academic freedom, and reforms aimed at addressing systemic challenges such as declining standards and brain drain.
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A key provision of the agreement is the 40 per cent upward review of academic staff remuneration in federal universities, effective January 1, 2026. Under the new salary structure, academic staff earnings comprise the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary and the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance.
The tools allowance is intended to support research activities, journal publications, conference participation, internet access, professional memberships, and book procurement, with the goal of improving productivity and retaining academic talent.
The agreement also restructures nine earned academic allowances to improve transparency by linking payments strictly to duties performed, including postgraduate supervision, fieldwork, clinical responsibilities, examination duties, and leadership roles.
In addition, the Federal Government approved a Professorial Cadre Allowance for the first time. Under this provision, full Professors will receive ₦1.74 million annually, while Readers will earn ₦840,000 per annum, a measure described as a structural intervention to recognise experience and strengthen the academic profession across the federal university system.
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