The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will on Wednesday, January 14, sign a new agreement aimed at improving the university system and maintaining stability in public universities.

This was disclosed in an official invitation issued by the Federal Ministry of Education through the University Education Department and sent to Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of federal universities.

The agreement includes a proposed 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff and improved pension benefits. Under the pension plan, professors will retire at 70 and receive pensions equal to their full annual salaries, a demand ASUU has pushed for over the years.

The deal also introduces a new funding arrangement for universities, covering research, libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff capacity development.

The circular dated January 5, 2025, described the signing as an important step in government–ASUU relations.

The ministry said the move shows government’s commitment to ensuring stability in universities, improving working and learning conditions, and supporting long-term development of tertiary education in the country. It also aligns with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda on reforms in key sectors, including education.

According to the invitation letter by the ministry, “the event signifies a critical milestone in promoting industrial harmony, enhancing teaching and learning conditions in Nigerian universities, and reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to the sustainable development of the education sector, in furtherance of the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”