Following weeks of negotiations, the Federal Government is set to sign a formal agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The development could be linked to the FG’s proposal of a 40% salary increase for academic staff, which was adopted by the union last month.
The Ministry of Education released a circular inviting vice-chancellors and registrars of federal universities to attend the signing ceremony on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Conference Hall, Abuja.
Rakiya Ilyasu, Director of University Education, signed the circular, dated January 5, 2026, with the reference FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.11/Vol.V/82, on behalf of the Minister of Education.
It was titled ‘Invitation to the Ceremony for the Signing of Agreement Between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.’
The circular was reviewed by our correspondent on Saturday and confirmed by Boriowo Folasade, the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations.
According to the circular, “This signing is a significant step toward establishing industrial harmony and strengthening teaching and learning in our colleges.
“It also reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of education in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.”
Attendance at the ceremony was made compulsory for all invited university administrators, emphasizing the importance of the agreement and its implementation.
Last month, the union agreed to the Federal Government’s proposed 40% salary rise for academic personnel, ending the 16-year industrial crisis that has plagued Nigeria’s university system since the 2009 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.
According to reports, the pact, which goes take effect on January 1, 2026, will be reviewed after three years.
Professors will receive a pension equal to their final yearly pay when they retire at age 70, according to the revised provisions. The agreement also calls for the establishment of a National Research Council to fund research with at least 1% of Nigeria’s GDP.
Other aspects include increased funding for libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff development; greater university autonomy; and the election of academic leaders, with only professors able to serve as deans and provosts. The agreement also states that no employees participating in previous industrial actions will be victimized.
