2009 Agreement: FG, ASUU End 16 Years Negotiation Crisis, Seal Historic Deal

 The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have finally concluded the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, bringing a long-running industrial relations crisis to an end after over 16 years of stalled talks.

ASUU disclosed this in a statement shared on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, noting that the agreement was reached on December 23, 2025, after prolonged negotiations between both parties.

The union added that the agreement would be reviewed every three years.

According to ASUU, the renegotiated agreement is centred on improved welfare for university lecturers and enhanced funding for public universities, aimed at stabilising the country’s higher education system.

A major highlight of the deal is a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff, alongside significantly improved pension benefits.

Under the new terms, professors will earn pensions equivalent to their full annual salaries upon retirement at the statutory age of 70 years, a provision the union described as a major step towards ensuring dignity in retirement for senior academics.

The agreement also introduces a new funding framework for public universities, with dedicated allocations for critical areas such as research, libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development.

In addition, it proposes the establishment of a National Research Council to fund research with a minimum of one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

It also confirmed that there is stronger university autonomy and academic freedom form a core part of the agreement, alongside provisions for elected academic leadership at the level of deans and provosts, positions to be occupied strictly by professors.

The agreement also guarantees that no member of the union will be victimised for their role in the prolonged struggle.

Confirming the development, an ASUU source said the agreement marked a major breakthrough for the university system after years of uncertainty.

“This is the outcome of sustained engagement and sacrifice by our members. It addresses salary, pension, funding, autonomy and governance as well as the election of academic leaders, including deans and provosts, a process restricted to professors.issues that have crippled Nigerian universities for years,” the source said.

The union also called on the government to extend negotiations to other university-based unions, stressing that inclusive engagement was necessary to promote lasting stability in the Nigerian university system.

The source added that ASUU expects prompt implementation by the Federal Government to avoid a repeat of past failures.

“Our expectation is full and timely implementation. Government must demonstrate sincerity this time, while extending similar negotiations to other university unions to ensure lasting stability in the system,” the source stated.