Tinubu Approves 40% Salary Increase for University Lecturers

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has welcomed the Federal Government’s approval of a 40% salary increase for university lecturers, marking a major breakthrough in negotiations between the union and the government. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu granted the approval following the successful renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-Federal Government Agreement, ending an eight-year stalemate that began in 2017.

The agreement was finalized on December 23, 2025, resolving years of deadlock caused by the government’s failure to review the 2009 pact as scheduled in 2012—a delay that led to repeated strikes and academic disruptions.

In a statement on December 24, 2025, ASUU highlighted that the new agreement aims to revitalize Nigeria’s public university system by tackling longstanding issues such as inadequate funding, weakened university autonomy, threats to academic freedom, and the ongoing brain drain in the sector.

In addition to the salary increase, the deal includes improved working conditions, enhanced pension benefits for professors, and a special funding framework for public universities. It also proposes the creation of a National Research Council, backed by at least 1% of Nigeria’s GDP, to boost research and innovation.

Education stakeholders have praised the agreement as a crucial step toward restoring stability in Nigeria’s university system, urging sustained efforts to ensure full implementation.