ASUU Reports Major Breakthroughs In 2009 Agreement Renegotiation

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said that it secured significant progress in the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, following a series of engagements led by the Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Committee.

The Union disclosed that several long-standing issues around university autonomy, funding, governance, and staff welfare, have now been addressed, marking what it described as a major shift in the government’s posture towards Nigeria’s public university system.

This was contained in a progress report presented at the Union’s National Secretariat in Abuja, which was sited by LEADERSHIP on Tuesday.

The report, signed by ASUU president, Professor Chris Piwuna, noted that both the Union and government representatives reached far-reaching agreements on non-salary and salary-related matters, as well as other structural reforms that affect the functionality and integrity of universities across the country.

A key highlight of the renegotiation was the renewed commitment to full university autonomy. The parties agreed that universities must operate strictly in line with their enabling laws and statutes, free from undue interference by ministries, departments, and agencies of government.

This includes restoring the powers of Governing Councils and protecting the role of University Senates in academic governance.

ASUU noted that the Federal Government also accepted its insistence that Vice-Chancellors must be appointed strictly on merit.

The Union said the growing trend of host communities demanding that only indigenes should head universities undermines standards and must be discontinued. Similarly, the election of Deans, Heads of Departments, and other key academic positions was reaffirmed as a core institutional practice.

On funding, the report revealed a commitment to an improved budget template that captures the recurrent and capital needs of universities based on a needs-driven budgeting model.

The Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders are expected to strengthen national research efforts, while funding from the National Research Council will now be dedicated to science and technology-based research across universities. Government also agreed to encourage companies and multinationals to support research and development through affirmative programmes.

The Union reported that the sanctity of university lands will be protected, while new Bills and Executive Orders will be sponsored to introduce innovative taxes targeted at sustainably funding education. These measures, ASUU said, represented a clear acknowledgement of the severe underfunding challenges facing public universities.

The negotiations also addressed the composition and powers of university Governing Councils. It was agreed that only persons of high integrity and familiarity with university culture should be appointed to these councils. State governments, too, were urged to appoint a fair percentage of non-indigenes to ensure diversity and uphold merit.

In terms of academic freedom and institutional rights, both parties agreed that students’ constitutionally guaranteed freedoms—particularly lawful assembly and association—must be respected across campuses. The Union welcomed the reaffirmation of the Senate’s role and the abolition of the pyramidal structure that previously limited promotions. Promotion will now depend on research output, publications, and overall performance rather than vacancies.

The Federal Government also accepted ASUU’s demand for duty-free importation of books, journals, laboratory equipment, renewable energy devices, and other teaching and research materials. This, the Union said, will significantly ease the burden of acquiring essential academic resources.

On salary structure, ASUU disclosed that several government offers were rejected as grossly inadequate until an improved package, closely aligned with the Nimi Briggs Committee recommendations was presented.

Although the new offer gives some academic cadres slightly higher figures and others slightly lower, the Union’s National Executive Council opted to accept it to avoid further stagnation of earnings after prolonged negotiations.

The Union also secured clarity on Earned Academic Allowances, with government agreeing that the annual cost will be pegged at 12 per cent of each university’s academic salary and wage bill, to be funded directly through budgetary allocations.

ASUU described the developments as evidence that persistence and principled negotiation can produce tangible gains for Nigeria’s university system. While implementation remains crucial, the Union said the breakthroughs mark a significant step towards revitalising public universities and improving the welfare of academic staff.

“NEC considered the offer and proposed that it was in it interest to accept the offer, as continued rejection of the offer will n stagnation of our earnings over a protracted period of negotiation.

“Academic Allowances for Academic Staff in Nigerian sities agreed that the annual cost of implementing the Earned Allowance demics shall be the equivalent of 12% of the appropriated Academic laries and wages of each university as already being implemented in tate Universities. This should be made available through budgetary on to the universities,” the ASUU president said.