The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have unveiled a renegotiated 2025 FGN–ASUU Agreement, marking a major attempt to address long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s public university system.
The new agreement, which takes effect from January 1, 2025, replaces the 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement that remained largely unimplemented for over sixteen years, despite repeated negotiations under successive administrations.
Key provisions of the 2025 agreement include increased funding for research and innovation, a reported 40 per cent salary adjustment for academic staff, and strengthened safeguards for university autonomy.
The agreement also introduces measures aimed at curbing brain drain and repositioning Nigerian universities as centres for research, innovation, and export-driven knowledge production.
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Speaking on the development, the Minister of Education said the agreement, signed under the Renewed Hope administration, was designed to tackle the structural decay within the university system rather than serve as a temporary solution to industrial disputes.
According to the Minister, the agreement prioritises sustainable funding, improved staff welfare, and investment in intensive research, with the broader objective of transforming universities into globally competitive institutions.
However, ASUU has maintained that concerns remain, particularly regarding systemic governance failures within universities.
The union has stressed the need to safeguard institutional autonomy and address the appointment of unqualified individuals into leadership positions within academic councils, warning that failure to do so could trigger internal crises.
To promote accountability and transparency, the agreement provides for a mandatory three-year review cycle, allowing periodic assessment of implementation across relevant institutions and government agencies.
While stakeholders have welcomed the agreement as a potential turning point, observers note that its success will ultimately depend on consistent implementation, effective monitoring, and sustained political will.
