The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are scheduled to sign a historic agreement on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, marking a major turning point in Nigeria’s tertiary education. The deal, brokered by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, includes a 40% salary increase for all academic staff and a significantly enhanced pension framework. Under the new terms, professors will now retire at age 70 with a pension equivalent to 100% of their final annual salary, fulfilling a decades-long demand by the union to retain experienced scholars.
The agreement also introduces a revolutionary funding model for public universities, mandating that at least 1% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) be allocated to a newly established National Research Council. This fund is expected to provide approximately ₦1.2 trillion (based on current projections) for libraries, laboratories, and staff development. A circular issued by the Ministry’s Director of University Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, described the upcoming ceremony in Abuja as a “critical milestone” for President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” aimed at ending the cycle of strikes that has plagued the sector for 16 years.
