FG,ASUU Conclude Renegotiation of 2009 Agreement, 40% Salary Increase Takes Effect January 2026

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government have concluded negotiations on the long-awaited renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, with the new terms scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.

ASUU disclosed this in a statement published on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, noting that the agreement was finalised on December 23, 2025, after months of prolonged negotiations.

The union added that the new agreement will be subject to review every three years.

According to the statement, the renegotiated agreement prioritises improved welfare for university lecturers and increased funding for public universities across the country.

Key provisions of the agreement include a 40 per cent increase in salaries for academic staff, alongside significantly enhanced pension benefits. Under the new arrangement, professors will earn pensions equivalent to their annual salaries upon retirement at the age of 70.

The deal also introduces a new funding framework for public universities, with dedicated allocations for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff development.

As part of this framework, a National Research Council is proposed to coordinate and support research activities, with funding pegged at a minimum of one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Other notable provisions include strengthened university autonomy and academic freedom, the election of academic leaders such as deans and provosts exclusively from among professors, and assurances that no individual will be victimised for participating in past industrial actions.

ASUU called on the Federal Government to ensure the prompt and faithful implementation of the agreement, while also urging authorities to extend similar negotiations to other university-based unions in order to promote lasting stability in the Nigerian university system.