After years of tension, stalled talks, and repeated disagreements between university lecturers and the government, something significant has finally shifted.
Nigeria’s tertiary education space is seeing a fresh commitment from the Federal Government—one that directly affects the pockets and morale of academic staff across federal institutions.
At the center of this development is a newly introduced allowance for professors and a major salary boost for lecturers, signaling what officials describe as a turning point for university welfare and stability.
Professors Set to Earn Over ₦140,000 Extra Monthly
One of the standout elements of the new agreement is the creation of a professorial cadre allowance, a special top-up designed exclusively for university professors.
With this addition, professors are expected to receive more than ₦140,000 extra every month on top of their existing pay.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, revealed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, explaining that the allowance is part of a broader effort by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to strengthen academic welfare and reward experience within the university system.
A 40 Percent Salary Increase for Federal Lecturers
Beyond professors, lecturers across federal tertiary institutions are also benefiting from the new deal.
According to the minister, the government has approved a 40 percent salary increase for academic staff, a move that many see as long overdue.
Alausa stressed that the funding to support this raise is already in place, making it more than just a promise on paper.
He noted that the government is financially prepared to sustain both the salary increase and other allowances outlined in the agreement.
ASUU and Government End a 16-Year Standoff
Earlier the same day, the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) reached what has been described as a historic 2025 agreement.
This deal finally breaks a 16-year deadlock over the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement.
The signing marks a major step toward improved welfare, increased funding, and a more predictable academic calendar—key issues that have fueled countless strikes over the years.
Nine Earned Academic Allowances Clearly Defined
Another major highlight of the agreement is the restructuring of the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).
The minister confirmed that nine enhanced allowances have now been clearly defined, properly structured, and fully documented in the signed agreement.
This clarity, he explained, ensures that lecturers understand exactly who gets paid, what they are paid for, and how much each component costs, reducing confusion and disputes in the future.
Government Says Implementation Has Already Begun
Alausa was quick to reassure lecturers that the agreement would not suffer the fate of past deals that were signed but never fully implemented.
According to him, implementation had already started even before the public announcement.
He revealed that the President, alongside the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, spent several hours between December 20, 29, and 30 finalizing the necessary circulars to back the welfare components of the agreement.
Those circulars, he said, have now been officially released.
Tinubu’s Condition: No Signing Without Funding
Sharing insights from the negotiation process, the minister said President Tinubu made his position clear from the outset.
The President reportedly refused to approve the agreement until he was fully convinced that the government had the funds to implement every aspect of it.
According to Alausa, once the funding question was settled and confirmed, the President gave the green light—ensuring that the agreement would be practical, not symbolic.
What’s Next for Nigeria’s University System?
With ASUU negotiations concluded and funding secured, attention now turns to full implementation and long-term impact.
The government says it has started with ASUU and intends to follow through across the tertiary education sector.
For lecturers, the next phase will be watching closely to see how consistently the promises are kept.
For students and parents, the hope is that improved welfare for academics translates into fewer strikes, better teaching conditions, and a more stable university calendar.
What’s next? The real test lies in sustained implementation—and whether this agreement truly ushers in a new era for Nigerian universities.
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