The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa on Wednesday said the President Bola Tinubu administration has laid solid foundation for harmony and to prevent strikes in the education sector.
He spoke in Abuja during the unveiling of the agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU).
According to him, President Tinubu's steadfast belief in education as a national investment has propelled the progress achieved in the unveiling of the agreement.
Dr. Alausa said "This administration did not shy away from complexity; we confronted it squarely. Through sustained engagement, fiscal realism, and mutual respect, we have laid a durable foundation for industrial harmony in our Federal Tertiary Educational Institutions.
"Let me state this clearly: it is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has taken us to where we are today. His unwavering commitment, hands-on guidance, and steadfast belief in education as a national investment made this achievement possible.
"For this uncommon, courageous, and people-centred leadership, we are all profoundly grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu."
The Minister noted that the agreement has ushered in a new era of stability, dignity, and excellence for Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
"It restores confidence to our lecturers, predictability to academic calendars, and hope to millions of students and parents across the country."
Unlike past administrations, he expressed confidence that the agreement will be implemented by the Tinubu-led administration, just as he disclosed that a circular has already been issued by the National Salaries and Wages Commission directing its implementation.
He said "On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Education, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to faithful implementation, continuous engagement, and sustained reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda."
The ceremony, he said is not merely an unveiling ceremony, but is the day Nigeria chose "dialogue, transparency, fiscal realism, and strong Presidential commitment as the pathway to resolving long-standing governance challenges and achieving sustained progress."
Disclosing some of the goodies of the agreement, the Minister said that 40% upward review of the emoluments of university academic staff in federal tertiary institutions has been approved to effectively begin from January 1, 2026.
Also, he disclosed that full-time Professors in Nigerian universities will now receive an additional annual allowance of N1.8 million.
The Minister further revealed that full-time Readers will also receive an additional N870,000 annual salary increment.
Under the agreement, academic salaries will comprise the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) and the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA).
The 40 per cent upward review, according to him, will largely be represented through CATA, which is specific to university academic staff and covers essential academic tools such as journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society membership, and book allowances.
“Key components of this Agreement include: Emolument, The Emolument of University Academic be reviewed upward by 40% to enhance morale, improve quality of service delivery and global competitiveness of Nigerian Tertiary Educational institutions, while reversing Brain Drain.
“Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) and Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA)
The Salary Structure will comprise CONUASS and CATA. The 40% review will be represented by consolidated academic tools allowance and is peculiar to university academic staff.
“The Consolidated Academic Tools Allowances cover journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society membership, and book allowances, which are critical tools required for effective teaching, research, and global academic competitiveness,” the minister stated .
The agreement, the Minister said, also restructured Earned Academic Allowances, now clearly defined into nine components that are transparently earned and tied strictly to duties performed.
They included enhanced provisions for postgraduate supervision, fieldwork, clinical duties, moderation, examination responsibilities, and leadership roles, a move aimed at promoting productivity, accountability, and fairness within the system.
“This approval recognizes the significant workload, administrative, scholarly, and research responsibilities borne by academics at these levels by virtue of their positions.
"The allowance is structured as follows: N1,740,000 per annum, equivalent to N140,000 per month, for Professors; and N840,000 per annum, equivalent to N70,000 per month.
“This intervention is not cosmetic. It is structural, practical, and transformative,” the Minister stated .
Speaking further on the agreement, he said that it was negotiated transparently and approved strictly in line with established government procedures.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the Government Re-Negotiating Committee, led by former Minister and Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, and the members.
He also thanked the ASUU Re-negotiating team, led by its President, Professor Chris Piwuna, immediate past President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, who worked tirelessly through the long and demanding process.
"May this agreement strengthen our tertiary educational institutions, inspire our academics, and secure the future of our nation." he concluded.
Speaking at the occasion, the ASUU President, Prof. Piwuna , noted that the new renegotiated agreement is coming 16 years after the signing of the 2009 agreement, which he said was due for renegotiation in 2012 but suffered prolonged delays due to lack of sincerity by previous administrations.
He also maintained that the renegotiation process initiated in 2017, went through several committees under past governments without success until the current administration inaugurated the Yayale Ahmed-led Renegotiation Committee in October 2024.
The ASUU President, therefore commended President Tinubu, the Minister of Education, the committee chairman, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, and members of the renegotiation team for their commitment.
Despite the new renegotiated agreement, he said there are still pending issues, which are internal.
Harping on persistent government interference in university autonomy, he said there is increasing politicisation of governing councils, and irregularities in the appointment of vice-chancellors.
He said “As we are here with joy for a successful collective bargaining between ASUU and the FG, we need to note that there are still pending issues, which are more of internal, that is dragging the progress and survival of the university system: government persistent encroachment into the Autonomy of the universities.
“University autonomy is universally recognised as a cornerstone of a functional higher education system. In Nigeria, although university autonomy is recognised in principle and partially entrenched in law, its practical implementation remains weak,” he stated
Universities, he said, are now run by consultants, which are now going a long way to drain resources garnered for the institutions.
The ASUU President, however warned that such practices undermine meritocracy and institutional stability.
Stressing that the country must be rescued, the ASUU President said the union is ready to support the government to make Nigeria a better place for all.
While expressing optimism that the government will implement the agreement, he added "That our union will not need to issue strike warnings for any of it to be implemented."
In her welcome address, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, noted that the occasion reflected shared commitment to dialogue, mutual respect, and the collective resolve to strengthen Nigeria’s public university system for the benefit of present and future generations.
She said that it also represented a shared resolve to break with the past, to replace confrontation with collaboration, and to anchor engagement on trust rather than suspicion.
"This administration recognizes that a stable, well-funded, and globally competitive university system is indispensable to Nigeria’s aspirations for innovation, productivity, and inclusive growth.
"It is our collective expectation that its faithful implementation will contribute to industrial harmony, improved working conditions for academic staff, enhanced teaching and research outcomes, and a more predictable academic calendar for our students and their families." Prof Ahmad stated
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, said that the agreement is a great step towards achieving industrial harmony in the education sector.
He however urged all parties to approach the implementation of the agreement with all sincerity in order to restore confidence in the sector.
On his part, the Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, Hon Abubakar Fulata, warned that everything should be done so that the new agreement will signify the last time lectures will go on strike on account of non-implementation of agreements.
Noting that the agreement is a victory for collective bargaining, the Senate Chairman on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Mohammed Dandutse Muntari, pledged legislative backing to ensure hitch-free implementation.
He commended President Tinubu and all the stakeholders involved in the renegotiated agreement process.