A circular from the Federal Ministry of Education directed all Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of federal universities to attend the signing ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The event will be held at the Conference Hall of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in Abuja.
The document, referenced as FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.11/Vol.V/82 and dated January 5, 2026, was signed by the Director of University Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, acting on behalf of the Minister of Education.
According to the ministry, the agreement marks a major step toward ensuring stability in universities, improving teaching conditions, and demonstrating the government’s dedication to advancing education in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The circular stressed that attendance is compulsory for all invited officials, highlighting the significance of the agreement.
Last month, reports indicated that the long-standing dispute between the government and ASUU, stemming from the 2009 agreement, was close to resolution after the union accepted the proposed salary increase.
ASUU confirmed on December 23, 2025, that a new agreement had been reached, effectively concluding renegotiations of the 2009 terms. Under the new deal, professors will receive a pension equal to their annual salary upon retirement at age 70. Additionally, the planned National Research Council (NRC) will allocate at least 1% of Nigeria’s GDP to fund research.
The agreement, effective from January 1, 2026, will be reassessed after three years. Other provisions include improved university funding for research, libraries, and labs; greater autonomy for institutions; and the election of academic leaders (Deans and Provosts), with eligibility limited to professors. The agreement also guarantees that no staff involved in past disputes will face retaliation.
ASUU has urged the government to act swiftly on the agreement and extend similar negotiations to other university unions to maintain stability.
The 2009 agreement has been a recurring source of tension between the government and ASUU, influencing university labor relations for over a decade. Despite its original goal of resolving key issues, disputes over implementation have kept it at the center of conflicts.
