The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) appears set to accept the Federal Government’s new pay offer as both sides move closer to sealing a long-awaited agreement aimed at averting another nationwide shutdown of public universities.
According to a negotiation document signed by ASUU President Chris Piwuna, the union is considering a 40 per cent salary increase proposed by the government during talks with the Yayale Ahmed-led committee in Abuja.
The deliberations, which began on November 24 and ended on November 25, were part of last-ditch efforts to prevent a full strike following ASUU’s one month ultimatum that expired on November 29.
The document shows that ASUU’s decision to accept the offer was influenced by the government’s refusal to shift ground and the union’s concern over years of wage stagnation.
After prolonged back-and-forth, both sides settled on a salary table comparable to, though slightly varied from, the Nimi Briggs Committee recommendation. ASUU’s NEC agreed it was in the union’s best interest to accept the deal to avoid further stagnation of earnings.
A key highlight of the emerging agreement is the decision to peg earned academic allowances at 12 per cent of each university’s appropriated academic staff wage bill.
This means that universities will receive an additional 12 per cent of their annual salary budget specifically for earned allowances. Both sides also agreed to a three-year cycle for reviewing the agreement.
The document further notes that the Federal Government and ASUU will jointly sponsor new tax-related bills to ensure sustainable funding for the tertiary education sector, while the President is expected to issue executive orders to support the initiative.
On university autonomy, the parties reaffirmed that institutions must operate strictly according to their enabling laws and statutes.
They also agreed that governing council appointments must follow the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, while vice-chancellors must be selected strictly on merit, rejecting the growing practice of insisting on candidates from host communities.
The deal additionally guarantees that academic staff salaries will automatically rise whenever there is a general increase in public-sector wages, while all parties involved in the negotiation process will be protected from victimisation.
Despite the progress, ASUU’s branch leaders are expected to brief members before the union formally writes to the Federal Government to finalise the agreement.
Across campuses, anxiety remains high. ASUU has insisted that issues such as outstanding salaries, earned allowances, and revitalisation funds must be fully addressed to prevent another round of industrial unrest.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, however, maintains that the government has met most of the union’s demands and is committed to keeping universities open, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has thrown its weight behind ASUU, warning that it will step in if the government fails to meet its obligations.
Meanwhile, the conversation around unstable funding and unfulfilled agreements continues to draw criticism.
The Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka, Prof. Samuel Asagba, faulted the Federal Government for what he described as its persistent mishandling of ASUU agreements.
He argued that failure to implement negotiated welfare packages has made Nigerian universities unstable and unattractive, urging the President to adopt a structured, periodic salary review for lecturers similar to that of the military.
As ASUU and the government return to the negotiation table next week, expectations are high that a final agreement may be reached, potentially averting another crippling strike in Nigeria’s university system.
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