The Nigerian government has unveiled the specifics of a landmark agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), introducing a new “professorial cadre allowance” alongside a significant salary increase for all academic staff.
Signed on December 23, 2025, this agreement officially replaces the outdated 2009 FG-ASUU document, effectively ending a 16-year cycle of disputes and strikes.
During a briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, detailed the new annual allowances designed to support administrative and research efficiency:
-
Professors: Will receive ₦1.7 million annually.
-
Readers: Will receive ₦840,000 annually.
The Minister clarified that this specific funding is meant for full-time staff to assist with research coordination, academic documentation, and correspondence.
Read Also: U.S. Court Bars Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer From Representing Venezuela’s Maduro
He noted:“This allowance applies to senior academics at the level of full-time professors and readers in our tertiary institutions, and not part-time professors and readers.”
A core component of the deal is a 40% pay rise for all academic staff. This will be implemented through two distinct structures: the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) and the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA).
The 40% increase is represented by the CATA, which covers essential costs such as internet access, journal publications, and conference participation.
Furthermore, nine previous “earned academic allowances” (covering duties like postgraduate supervision and fieldwork) have been reformed.
Alausa explained they are now:“structured, transparently earned, and strictly tied to duties performed, thereby promoting productivity, accountability, and fairness.”
Minister Alausa hailed the agreement as the end of the era of “incessant strikes” in public universities, promising a return to predictable academic calendars.
He remarked:“History will remember today not merely as an unveiling ceremony, but as 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.”
The President of ASUU, Professor Chris Piwuna, shared this sense of optimism, though he emphasized the need for the government to fulfill its promises:“I hope that the government will implement all of the agreements reached as and when due.”
Join Informant Online WhatsApp Channel With Link Below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2
DON’T MISS
JAMB Announces Sale Of 2026 UTME, Direct Entry Forms [Eligibility And Requirements]
1,700,000 is that the representation of what is to be added to their previous salary because that 1,700,000 annually is actually about 146,000 per month