BREAKING NEWS: FG Approves 40% Pay Rise for Lecturers

The Federal Government has approved a 40% salary increase for Nigerian lecturers and introduced a new professorial allowance.

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JUST IN: Nigerian Professors to Earn Extra ₦1.8M Yearly

The Federal Government and ASUU have reached a new agreement, granting Nigerian professors an additional ₦1.8 million annually.

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Wahala Don End: FG Finally Signs Deal With ASUU, Approves 40% Pay Rise & Full Pensions for Professors!

Abeg, wahala don end for Nigerian universities! The Federal Government and ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) are set to shake hands on a historic agreement this Wednesday, January 14, 2026, that promises to change the game for lecturers across the country.

The official signing will hold at 11am in Abuja, according to a circular from the Ministry of Education sent to vice-chancellors and registrars of federal universities nationwide. And yes, attendance is mandatory!

So, what’s in the bag? First, a juicy 40% salary increase for academic staff and beefed-up pension benefits. Under the new pension plan, professors will retire at 70 on pensions equivalent to their full annual salaries—a major win that ASUU has been fighting for years.

The deal also introduces a new university funding model with dedicated allocations for research, libraries, labs, equipment, and staff development. Plus, a National Research Council will now fund research with at least 1% of Nigeria’s GDP.

The agreement comes after years of tension. In December 2025, FG and ASUU finally concluded renegotiations of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, ending a crisis that stalled talks for over 16 years. The new deal takes effect from January 1, 2026, with a three-year review plan.

The Ministry says this milestone shows the government’s commitment to industrial peace, better teaching conditions, and sustainable growth in education, all in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Na so! Nigerian lecturers finally get proper pay and pension benefits, while students can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that strikes might finally reduce.

Families Raise Alarm as UNICROSS Lecturers Remain Missing Six Months After Kidnapping in Imo State

Families of two young lecturers from the University of Cross River State, Engr. Odu Emmanuel Odu and Eja Vincent Ndifon, have cried out over the lack of progress six months after the pair were kidnapped along the Okigwe–Okwele Road in Imo State. Despite early media attention, ASUU involvement, and repeated visits to security agencies, the families say they have received no updates from the police, DSS, or the Imo State Government. Both victims, aged 32, were travelling from Lagos to Calabar after purchasing a vehicle when they were abducted. The families describe the ordeal as emotionally devastating and call on authorities to release investigation findings and intensify rescue efforts, noting that the lecturers were promising PhD candidates and active ASUU members.

ASUU Threatens Strike November 21 Over Unmet Demands.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Owerri Zone, has issued a stern warning that it will resume its suspended strike from November 21, 2025, citing the Federal Government’s failure to address the union’s long-standing demands.

The declaration was made by Prof. Dennis Aribodor, Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Owerri, during a press briefing at the ASUU Secretariat in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, on Thursday.

ASUU Owerri Zone represents academics from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State University, Owerri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

Prof. Aribodor, joined by other union officials, stressed that the eight-day window before the proposed strike must be used by the Federal Government for meaningful negotiations.

ASUU issues fresh warning, accuses Federal Government of selective implementation.

ASUU blames FG’s neglect for deepening education crisis.

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Chris Piwuna, has accused the Federal Government of neglecting the education sector, warning that such indifference is at the root of Nigeria’s prolonged academic and development crisis.

Speaking during The Toyin Falola Interviews on Sunday, in a virtual session titled “A Conversation with the ASUU President,” Piwuna said federal officials do not view the challenges facing the education system as national problems requiring collective responsibility. Instead, he said, ministers and government executives often dismiss education-related matters as “the Education Minister’s problem.”

“Members of the government, the ministers, and chief executives do not see the problem of education as a problem that affects them.
When ASUU declares a strike, the Minister of Finance sees it as the Minister of Education’s problem; the Minister of Science and Technology sees it the same way,” Piwuna said.

“But if the Minister of Finance understood that the country’s economic growth depends on a knowledgeable workforce, he would take the Minister of Education’s problem as his own.”

Piwuna argued that the Federal Government’s inconsistent policy direction, corruption, and capitalist ideology continue to weaken public education. He lamented that while ASUU views education as a public good, many government officials treat it as a profit-driven enterprise.

“We in ASUU see education as a public good, but those in government treat it as a capitalist venture. Many of them now suggest that TETFund should begin funding private universities… Self-interest and contract inflation have replaced public service. That is why TETFund has become a marketplace,” he added.

The ASUU leader further revealed that discussions between the union and the government are ongoing at the National Executive Council meeting in Taraba State, but warned that the salary offers currently on the table remain “unacceptable.”

“The terms of the agreement are shaping up, and in the next week or two, we’ll make a definite statement. But what the government is offering us as salaries is unacceptable, and we are ready to go to any length to fight it,” he said.

Strike: ASUU disputes FG’s claim of N50bn payment.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities says it has not received the N50bn revitalisation fund the Federal Government recently claimed to have released, insisting that none of the union’s demands has been met ahead of its National Executive Council meeting slated for November 8 and 9, 2025.
ASUU stated this in a Wednesday statement signed by Prof. Jurbe Molwus, who recalled that the union suspended its two-week warning strike in good faith after assurances from senior government officials that concrete proposals would be brought to the table.

“As ASUU mobilises for its National Executive Council meeting scheduled to hold on the 8th and 9th November, 2025, we expect that some of the outstanding entitlements such as 3.5 months withheld salaries, 25/35% wage award arrears, promotion arrears, unpaid salaries of some members etc. would have been paid to university workers by now. But all we get is press releases by the Honourable Minister of Education. What we need is credit alerts and not misleading releases.”

He noted that the Federal Government’s recent announcement of a N50bn disbursement had not translated into payment to universities.

“It is sad to further note that even the N50bn revitalisation fund the FGN claimed to have released some weeks ago is yet to reach the universities. We do not know why the Minister of Education is still keeping it.”

Molwus also faulted comments by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, claiming that N2.3bn had been released to settle salary and promotion arrears.

“Again, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa, was quoted to have said in a recent release that ‘The FG has released N2.3bn to clear salary and promotion arrears in all federal universities’.

“But, as we speak right now, the university workers have yet to receive any such alerts. So, the minister’s claim of clearing backlog may be in the fiction of his imagination. He also claimed to have strengthened academic staff welfare, and we ask how?”

Molwus argued that the funds cited by the minister were insufficient.

ASUU Warns Of Fresh Strike As Union Accuses Education Minister Of False Claims.

According to Punch, November 5, 2025, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Jos branch, has accused the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa, of deliberately misleading Nigerians over the Federal Government’s alleged fulfilment of agreements reached with the union. The lecturers warned that failure to address lingering issues could force the union to resume its suspended nationwide strike.

In a statement released after its congress meeting, the branch chairman, Dr. Chris Piwuna, said the minister’s recent comments suggesting that the government had met all of ASUU’s demands were “false and deceptive.” He maintained that several critical aspects of the 2020 Memorandum of Action remain unresolved, including unpaid earned academic allowances, revitalization funds, and withheld salaries during the 2022 strike period.

Piwuna argued that the government’s continuous failure to implement agreed resolutions has deepened the crisis in the education sector. He accused the minister of attempting to create public resentment against the union rather than focusing on genuine reforms. “Our members are tired of repeated promises and propaganda. What we demand is action, not empty assurances,” he said.

The statement further disclosed that ASUU’s National Executive Council would soon meet to review the current situation and decide on the next line of action if the government fails to act promptly. The lecturers reiterated their commitment to defending public universities and ensuring adequate funding, fair wages, and academic autonomy.

Reacting to the allegation, a senior official in the Ministry of Education insisted that the government had made “considerable progress” in addressing ASUU’s concerns, adding that some delays were due to budgetary constraints. He appealed to the union to remain patient and prioritize dialogue over confrontation.

Education analysts, however, warned that another ASUU strike could paralyze the academic calendar across the country and disrupt the smooth running of universities, urging both parties to find a lasting solution through transparent negotiations.

Gov Alia approves implementation of unions’ demands at Benue varsityNewsGov Alia approves implementation of unions’ demands at Benue varsity.

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has approved the immediate implementation of the demands made by striking workers of the Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, Benue State.

This followed negotiations between the government team led by the Secretary to the State Government, Deaconess Serumun Deborah Aber; the institution’s management, led by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Terver Ubwa; and the university-based unions—ASUU, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT—culminating in a Memorandum of Agreement.

The visitor to the university, Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, approved the implementation of the contentious issues that had caused industrial disharmony since 2018 with immediate effect.

This was contained in a letter dated October 31, 2025, duly signed by the Permanent Secretary (General Services) on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Registrar of the institution, Barnabas Hema, he enumerated the approved demands to include “immediate and complete implementation of the newly approved minimum wage template as presented by the unions.

“Immediate payment of arrears of the minimum wage from November 2023 to date; proper placement and payment of salary entitlements to previously promoted staff of the university. This is with immediate effect, starting with October 2025 salaries.”

He said the government is committed to the payment of arrears of all deferred promotion entitlements to deserving staff.

Hema added that the accumulated promotion entitlements from 2018 would be defrayed at a later date

The Federal Government said it has released about ₦2.3 billion to pay arrears and backlogs of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university-based unions.

FG Releases ₦2.3BN to Clear Salary, Promotion Arrears In Federal Universities.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s tertiary education sector through decisive fiscal interventions, policy reforms, and sustained dialogue with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university-based unions.

The Honourable Minister of Education, Chief (Dr.) Maruf Olatunji Alausa, FAMedS, CON, disclosed this while providing updates on ongoing engagements with ASUU and other tertiary institution unions.

He stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains resolute in his determination to resolve all lingering welfare and funding issues in a transparent, fair, and sustainable manner.

Dr. Alausa announced that the Federal Government has released N2.3 billion, representing Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears to universities across the country.

The disbursements, processed through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), reflect the Tinubu Administration’s resolve to clear inherited backlogs and enhance the welfare of academic and non-academic staff in the tertiary education sector.

According to him, “A total of N2.311 billion, representing Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears, has been released through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to universities. Benefiting institutions should begin to receive payment alerts anytime from now.”

He further disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance and the OAGF, is finalising the release of third-party non-statutory deductions and pension remittances to NUPEMCO, expected to be completed in the coming days.

Dr. Alausa added that the government has approved the full mainstreaming of the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) into university staff salaries beginning from 2026, noting that this will ensure prompt, predictable, and sustainable payments going forward.

ASUU Seeks Wamakko’s Intervention To End Dispute With FG.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has appealed to Senator Aliyu Wamakko to intervene in its lingering dispute with the Federal Government.

Led by its National Vice President, Professor Chris Piwuna, members of the union visited Senator Wamakko at his Asokoro residence in Abuja, urging him to use his experience, credibility, and influence to help restore constructive dialogue between the union and the government.

During the meeting, ASUU emphasised that its appeal was not politically motivated but borne out of the desire to find a lasting solution to the issues that have repeatedly disrupted academic activities across the country.

Professor Piwuna noted that the continuous breakdown in communication between the two parties has deeply affected the nation’s education sector, with students and parents bearing the greatest burden.

“We are confident that Senator Wamakko’s intervention can bridge the existing gap between the Federal Government and ASUU. Our goal is to ensure stability in the university system and to prevent future disruptions that have so far hindered academic progress.”

The union outlined key expectations from the senator’s involvement, including facilitating discussions between ASUU leadership and the Federal Government, urging both parties to recommit to the implementation of past agreements, and developing a structured framework for continuous engagement to avert future crises.

ASUU also urged the lawmaker to work with relevant Senate committees and the Ministry of Education to ensure accountability in policy execution and funding commitments.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its ongoing two-week warning strike, 10 days after it began.

ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, announced the decision on Wednesday at a press conference in Abuja, directing members to resume work starting Thursday.

According to Piwuna, the suspension followed “fruitful engagements” with government representatives during negotiations held last week. The decision was reached after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union held in Abuja between October 21 and 22.

However, he warned that the union would resume the strike if the government failed to meet its commitments within a month.

“NEC resolved to grant the government a one-month window to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement and address all other outstanding issues,” Piwuna said.

He added that ASUU expects the government to use the opportunity to ensure lasting industrial harmony and stability in the university system.

ASUU Suspends Warning Strike, Give FG Ultimatum.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has suspended its two weeks warning strike, giving Nigeria’s Federal Government fours weeks ultimatum her demands.

The two-week total and comprehensive warning strike was suspended, in a post published on its official X (former Twitter) account on Wednesday October 22, 2025, granting the Federal Government a one-month window to meet all outstanding demands on staff welfare, unpaid entitlements, university revitalization, and full implementation of the 2009 ASUU–FGN agreement.

Meanwhile ASUU President Dr. Chris Piwuna, during a press conference in the nation’s capital of Abuja, said that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union resolved to give the FG one month window to address all their demands as stated in the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.

The President though stated that the gesture to suspend the strike was through the efforts of the Nigeria’s Senate who sued for a round table agreement.

ASUU Meets Today to Review Ongoing University Strike.

The national leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will convene today, Tuesday, to assess its stance on the ongoing strike by university lecturers across the country.

Sources within the union confirmed that the meeting, scheduled to hold in Abuja, will focus on reviewing developments from recent engagements with the Federal Government and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). Discussions are expected to center on unresolved issues, including funding for public universities, lecturers’ welfare, and the implementation of past agreements.

The outcome of the meeting will determine whether the union extends or suspends the industrial action that has disrupted academic activities in federal and state universities nationwide.

ASUU had embarked on the strike several weeks ago over what it described as the government’s failure to honour previous commitments on university revitalisation, earned academic allowances, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) for salary payments.

Stakeholders have urged both parties to find a lasting resolution to prevent further damage to the already strained education sector. The union is expected to issue a formal statement after the meeting outlining its next steps.

ASUU Strike Deepens as NLC Issues 4 Week Ultimatum to FG Over Broken Promises.

According to report by Punch newspaper on Tuesday October 21, 2025, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have joined forces to demand a lasting solution to the persistent instability in Nigeria’s university system.

During a meeting held at the NLC headquarters in Abuja, labour leaders from ASUU, SSANU, COEASU, and ASUP deliberated on the ongoing strike affecting universities nationwide. The NLC issued a four week ultimatum to the Federal Government to conclude negotiations with all unions in the education sector or face a nationwide industrial action.

ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, said the union declared the strike following the expiration of its 14-day ultimatum. He cited unresolved issues such as unpaid salaries, unfulfilled agreements, and poor infrastructure.

NLC President Joe Ajaero warned that workers would no longer tolerate government’s neglect of agreements. He condemned the “no work no pay” policy, saying it would now be replaced with “no pay, no work,” stressing that most strikes occur due to government’s failure to honour deals.

Ajaero insisted that if the government fails to act within four weeks, all Nigerian workers will join in a nationwide protest. ASUU vowed to resist further insincerity in negotiations, urging government to prioritise education.

The ASUU strike has now entered its eighth day.

Strike: ASUU to hold strategic NEC meeting as action enters week two.

The national leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, ASUU, will meet today, Tuesday, to evaluate its position on the ongoing strike by its members.

The development comes after ASUU disclosed that the Government’s Renegotiation Team, led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, came to the negotiation table with a documented response to the union’s demands and made some offers to it.

In a strike bulletin issued on Monday, the union acknowledged that progress was being recorded in certain areas such as the release of third-party deductions, arrears of promotions, mainstreaming of Earned Academic Allowance, EAA, confiscation of University of Abuja land, and victimization of its members in KSU, LASU and FUTO.

ASUU members on Monday held congresses across its branches in the various universities to vote on whether the union should suspend or continue its labour action.

Recall that the union had given a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government for the conclusion and implementation of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, as well as addressing other demands of its members.

However, there’s indication that ASUU wasn’t ready to throw in the towel yet as feelers are that many of the branches have voted in support of the continuation of the strike.

Officials of ASUU at the University of Abuja, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. They confided in DAILY POST that the matter is far from being over.

According to them, their members in respective branches were in support of the continuation of the strike despite some offers being made to ASUU by the Nigerian government.

NLC Threatens Nationwide Action if FG Fails to End ASUU Strike, Gives Deadline.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to join forces with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) if the Federal Government fails to conclude negotiations with unions in the tertiary education sector.

The decision was announced by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, during an interactive session with labour correspondents in Abuja, following a meeting between the NLC and leaders of tertiary institutions’ unions held at the Congress headquarters.

His statement, “We have decided to give the Federal Government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector. They have started talks with ASUU, but the problems extend beyond ASUU,” Ajaero stated.

“If after four weeks these negotiations are not concluded, the organs of the NEC will meet to decide on a nationwide action involving all workers and unions in the country, to ensure that lasting solutions are found.”

The NLC also criticised the Federal Government’s no-work-no-pay policy imposed on members of ASUU for embarking on strike, describing it as unjust and provocative.

“The so-called policy of no work, no pay will henceforth be no pay, no work. You cannot benefit from an action you instigated. We have discovered that most strike actions in this country — up to 90% — are caused by the government’s failure to honour agreements,” Ajaero added.

Nigeria’s tertiary education system has been plagued by instability, with the ongoing ASUU strike leading to the closure of universities nationwide.

ASUU National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, had announced the strike during a press briefing at the University of Abuja on Sunday, following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government on September 28. The union cited unresolved issues such as staff welfare, salary arrears, infrastructure decay, and the non-implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the Federal Government to improve funding for public universities. To end strikes.