Federal Government, ASUU Sign Landmark Agreement to Reform Tertiary Education and End Recurrent Crises

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have entered into a new, far-reaching agreement designed to strengthen the quality of university education in Nigeria and ensure long-term academic stability. The pact, signed on Wednesday at the TETFund Conference Hall in Maitama, Abuja, officially replaces the long-contentious 2009 agreement that had led to numerous strikes and prolonged disruptions in the academic calendar.

The event drew top government officials and education stakeholders, including the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad. Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, expressed cautious optimism, stating that although the union’s past engagements with the government had often been marred by unfulfilled promises, ASUU hopes this era will be different.

“We are optimistic that the government will implement this agreement in totality, but pessimism still exists because of our history,” Piwuna said. He added that the union hopes it will no longer need to issue strike threats for the government to honor the terms agreed upon, praising the openness and accessibility of the current administration.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described the new agreement as a defining moment for Nigeria’s tertiary education system. He said the pact reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to quality learning environments and uninterrupted academic activity across the nation’s universities.

“This occasion represents far more than the presentation of a document; it symbolises renewed trust, restored confidence, and a decisive turning point in the history of Nigeria’s tertiary education system,” Alausa said. “Today’s agreement is a clear and unprecedented demonstration of President Tinubu’s commitment to quality education and a stable academic calendar.”

Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi, emphasized the importance of collaboration and sincerity in implementing the agreement. He commended ASUU for its patience and patriotism throughout negotiations, noting that faithful execution of the agreement is essential to rebuilding trust among students, parents, and the broader public.

“Agreements gain true meaning not at the point of signing but through consistent and honest implementation,” Dingyadi stated, urging both parties to uphold transparency and partnership.

Senator Muntari Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, echoed this sentiment. He described the agreement as a historic step toward sustainable development in the higher education sector and a crucial investment in Nigeria’s academic and national future.

The new agreement introduces several key components aimed at revitalizing universities. Notably, academic staff emoluments have been increased by 40% to boost morale, enhance service delivery, improve global competitiveness, and curb the ongoing brain drain. This salary structure combines the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS) with a consolidated academic tools allowance.

Alausa announced the introduction of a new “professorial cadre allowance,” approved for full-time professors and readers in recognition of their significant academic, administrative, and research responsibilities. This marks the first time such an allowance has been included in a government-ASUU agreement.

According to the minister, these reforms signal a renewed commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s university system and ensuring that decades of recurrent crises are brought to an end.

The agreement, if fully implemented, is expected to usher in a new era of stability, improved welfare for academic staff, and enhanced learning conditions for millions of students across the country.