‘We Can Now Sleep At Night’, ASUU Hails New Pact With Federal Government

After years of industrial crisis and prolonged negotiations, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has hailed the new agreement with the Federal Government, calling it a relief for the nation’s universities and a reason for lecturers to finally sleep easy at night.

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made the statement while speaking at the unveiling of agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and ASUU in Abuja on Wednesday.

LEADERSHIP reports that key provisions of the new Federal Government-ASUU agreement include a 40 per cent salary increase, where academic staff in federal universities are to receive a 40 per cent salary increase as part of efforts to improve welfare and address long-standing remuneration concerns.

Professors will now retire at the age of 70 with pensions equivalent to their final annual salary, representing a major review of the existing pension framework for academics.

The agreement also introduces a new funding structure with dedicated allocations for research, laboratories, libraries, equipment, infrastructure development, and staff training in the University system.

Piwuna said, “We can now sleep at night over this new agreement.”

He hailed the Yayale Ahmed-led FGN/ASUU Renegotiation Team; the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and others, for playing key roles in coming to the amicable resolution.

However, he said there were still pending issues, which were internal matters. He lamented that government’s persistent interference with the universities’ autonomy still remained a major concern.