FG, ASUU to Sign Renegotiated 2009 Agreement Wednesday
By Yahaya Zakka
The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are set to sign the long-awaited renegotiated 2009 agreement on Wednesday, January 14, a move expected to ease more than a decade of strained industrial relations in Nigeria’s public university system.
Invitations have been sent to the vice chancellors of all federal universities to attend the signing ceremony, scheduled to take place at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja. The invitation was issued by Rakiya Iliyasu, Director of University Education.
According to the invitation, the event marks a “critical milestone” in promoting industrial harmony and improving teaching and learning conditions across Nigerian universities.
The ministry said the signing also reflects the government’s renewed commitment to the sustainable development of the education sector.
The 2009 agreement, signed initially between ASUU and the federal government, was due for renegotiation in 2012.
However, the process stalled for over a decade, leading to repeated strikes by university lecturers and prolonged disruptions to academic calendars nationwide.
The impasse began to ease in December 2025, when both parties reached a mutual understanding—the first breakthrough since renegotiations formally commenced in 2017.
ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, confirmed that the union and the government negotiating team had reached agreements on key outstanding issues.
He also disclosed that further engagements were held with the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, to secure a firm government commitment to implementation.
Under the renegotiated terms, academics are to receive a 40% salary increase.
The agreement also provides for the establishment of a National Research Council, to be funded by at least one percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In addition, professors are expected to earn pensions equivalent to their annual salary upon retirement at the age of 70.
Other provisions include enhanced university autonomy, stronger guarantees for academic freedom, and improved funding for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff development.
The agreement was finalized by the sixth renegotiation committee set up by the federal government since 2017.
The most recent committee, known as the Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee, was chaired by Yayale Ahmed, Pro-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University.
Several previous committees—led at different times by the late Professor Nimi Briggs, Munzali Jibrin, and Wale Babalakin—produced draft agreements that were never signed or implemented, a situation ASUU repeatedly criticized as bad faith.
The latest committee was formed shortly after ASUU launched a two-week warning strike protesting government delays.
If successfully signed and implemented, the agreement is expected to significantly reduce industrial disputes in the university system and stabilize academic activities across the country.
