ABUJA, Nigeria — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accepted the Federal Government’s latest offer of a 40 per cent salary increase, marking a major breakthrough after months of stalled negotiations and the union’s threat of nationwide industrial action.
The decision, reached at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and detailed in a document signed by ASUU President Professor Chris Piwuna, followed two days of intense negotiations with the government committee chaired by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.
The talks, held in Abuja on 24 and 25 November, formed part of the federal government’s last-minute efforts to avert a full-scale strike following ASUU’s one-month ultimatum.
ASUU had previously rejected the government’s 35 per cent offer, insisting it fell short of the recommendations made by the Nimi Briggs Committee.
According to insiders present at the meeting, the government maintained that 40 per cent was the highest it could commit to at this time.
Although the NEC has endorsed the agreement, branch leaders must now brief their members before ASUU formally communicates acceptance to the federal government and proceeds to the signing phase.
The progress report, obtained in Abuja, outlines detailed agreements across seven major areas: conditions of service, salaries, funding, governance, autonomy, implementation strategies, and earned academic allowances.
Both parties reaffirmed full university autonomy, committing to strict adherence to existing laws governing Senates, Governing Councils, and internal regulations.
Circulars inconsistent with university laws will no longer apply.
Vice-chancellors will continue to be appointed strictly on merit, rejecting calls for host-community indigenes to automatically occupy the position.
Membership of governing councils must also comply with the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, with nominees expected to be individuals of integrity and deep understanding of university culture.
Departments will elect their heads, while deans, sub-deans, and provosts will be chosen through internal elections.
Recruitment will prioritise national and international diversity among staff and students.
An enhanced needs-based budgeting model was approved to address capital and recurrent gaps in university funding.
The federal government committed to strengthening research and development through National Research Council interventions and by encouraging multinationals to fund research in tertiary institutions.
Universities’ landed property will be protected, and the government will explore innovative taxes—some requiring legislative action—to guarantee sustainable education financing.
Statutory university bodies, including Senate and Congregation, will remain configured according to existing law.
Pre-degree programmes are to focus on sciences and under-subscribed fields.
Universities must also respect students’ constitutional rights to lawful assembly and association.
The long-criticised pyramidal structure for academic staff was abolished.
Promotion will now be strictly based on research output and performance rather than the availability of vacancies.
The agreement also grants duty-free importation of books, laboratory equipment, journals, instructional materials, and renewable-energy resources.
Priority actions include establishing an implementation committee, creating a monitoring unit within the National Universities Commission (NUC), amending relevant laws, and releasing committed funds.
The entire agreement will undergo a comprehensive review every three years, and academic staff wages will automatically adjust whenever public sector salaries are reviewed nationwide.
ASUU rejected earlier government proposals as inadequate.
After further deliberations, a modified structure—closely aligned with the Nimi Briggs recommendations—was adopted.
On earned academic allowances, the government agreed that universities will pay annual allowances equivalent to 12 per cent of their academic staff wage bill.
This will be funded through yearly budgetary allocations.
A non-victimisation clause was also secured to protect all individuals involved in the negotiations.
ASUU’s one-month ultimatum expired last Saturday, raising anxiety across campuses.
The union had accused the federal government of a “nonchalant” attitude toward its demands, which included payment of outstanding salaries and revitalisation funds.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has consistently argued that the government has met all of ASUU’s demands.
