The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has commended the federal government and members of the renegotiation committee for signing the 2025 ASUU-FG agreement, replacing the 2009 pact. The new agreement was formally unveiled on Wednesday, after being signed on December 23. ASUU President, Chris Piwuna, praised the government’s negotiation team, led by Yayale Ahmed, for steering the process to completion.
The agreement introduces a 40 percent increment for academic staff, as well as an annual allowance of N1.7 million for professors and N840,000 for readers. It also reviews the remuneration for earned academic allowances, including postgraduate supervision, fieldwork, and leadership roles. Mr. Piwuna expressed optimism about the implementation of the agreement but noted that the union remains cautious due to past experiences with the government.
The ASUU president acknowledged the history of disputes between the union and the government, which resulted in a cumulative 21 months of strike between 2017 and 2023. He expressed hope that the union would not be forced to issue a strike threat for the full implementation of the new agreement. Mr. Piwuna commended the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, for his support and encouragement throughout the renegotiation process, which was completed in 14 months after a 14-year deadlock with the previous government.
The ASUU president also praised the renegotiation team, the union’s trustees, and its members for their resilience during the struggle for the renegotiation. He thanked the National Universities Commission (NUC) Executive Secretary, Abdullahi Ribadu, and his team for hosting the union and providing secretarial support. The new agreement marks a significant development in the relationship between the government and the academic staff, and its implementation will be closely watched in the coming months. With the agreement in place, the focus will now shift to ensuring its full implementation and addressing the concerns of the academic staff.
