By Peter Omopo
Abuja – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has agreed to a 40 per cent salary increase offered by the Federal Government, signalling a major breakthrough in the long-standing wage negotiations that threatened to plunge public universities into a new round of industrial action.
The union, which previously rejected the government’s 35 per cent proposal, softened its stance during a final negotiation session held in Abuja. According to multiple sources, the government team, led by former Head of Service Yayale Ahmed, informed ASUU representatives that 40 per cent was the maximum concession the administration could make.
The talks, which reconvened on Monday, November 24, and concluded the next day, were part of emergency efforts by the government to avert a nationwide strike after ASUU’s one-month ultimatum expired over the weekend.
Union Leadership Approves Offer Pending Branch Consultations
ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) has endorsed the new salary structure, but branch chairmen are now expected to brief their members before the union formally communicates its acceptance to the Federal Government.
A document signed by ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, and obtained in Abuja, indicates the union’s readiness to adopt the revised salary package as well as several additional reforms captured in the updated 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.
The report details significant progress across seven thematic areas, including conditions of service, university governance, salary adjustments, implementation strategies, and earned academic allowances.
Major Resolutions on Autonomy, Governance, and Funding
Both parties reaffirmed strict adherence to Nigeria’s university autonomy laws, stressing that governance procedures set by Senates and Governing Councils must not be overridden by external circulars.
Key governance resolutions include:
- Vice-chancellor appointments must remain merit-based, rejecting proposals for host-community involvement in the selection process.
- Governing Council appointees must have proven integrity and a clear understanding of academic culture.
- Heads of departments and deans will be elected internally, reinforcing academic freedom.
- Recruitment policies will support both national inclusion and international competitiveness.
On funding, the Federal Government agreed to adopt a needs-based budgeting model to address chronic underfunding of universities. The state also committed to supporting research through the National Research Council and encouraging private-sector involvement in research financing.
Universities will receive protection for their landed properties, while the government explores new tax-based options to boost sustainable education funding.
Operational and Academic Reforms Agreed
Several structural reforms were approved, including:
- Limiting pre-degree programmes to science and under-subscribed courses.
- Protecting students’ constitutional rights on campuses.
- Abolishing the unpopular pyramidal academic ranking system.
- Linking promotions strictly to measurable research output and academic performance.
- Granting universities duty-free privileges for importing educational equipment, journals, laboratory materials, and renewable energy resources.
The agreement also prescribes a three-year review cycle and mandates automatic salary adjustments for university lecturers whenever public-sector wages are reviewed nationwide.
Earned Allowances, Non-Victimisation Clause Secured
On earned academic allowances (EAA), both sides settled on an annual payment equivalent to 12 per cent of each university’s academic wage bill. Funding for this will be captured in yearly federal appropriations.
ASUU also secured a non-victimisation clause to protect participants in the negotiation process from reprisals.
Government Says It Has Met ASUU’s Demands
ASUU’s recent ultimatum had raised fears that the union was preparing for another strike, citing slow government action on revitalisation funds and unpaid allowances.
But Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, insisted that the Federal Government has substantially addressed all major concerns raised by the union.
With the union’s acceptance of the 40 per cent wage increase and other reforms, the long-drawn salary dispute appears closer to resolution, potentially restoring stability to Nigeria’s public university system after months of uncertainty.
