Reporting by Vanguard indicates that the Federal Government has officially begun the implementation of the renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Central to this development is the payment of a 40% increase in peculiar allowances, a move designed to stabilize the perennially volatile higher education sector and curb the “japa” syndrome among Nigerian academics.
The disbursement follows months of back-and-forth negotiations between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour, and union leadership. This fiscal intervention is part of a broader strategy to improve the welfare of public servants under the 2026 budget, which has been described by government officials as a “Budget of Consolidation.”
Education analysts suggest that while the 40% hike is a significant step, it only addresses one facet of the 2009 agreement that has caused decades of industrial action. The government is also reportedly looking into the release of withheld salaries for other unions within the university system to ensure a holistic peace on campuses across the country.
Further confirmation from The Nation and Daily Trust highlights the mixed reactions from the academic community. The Nation quoted a branch chairman who said, “While we acknowledge the payment, the government must also address the infrastructural decay in our labs.” Daily Trust added that “the Office of the Accountant-General has confirmed that the payroll system has been updated to reflect the new rates for all verified staff.”
Echotitbits take: This is a calculated move by the Tinubu administration to buy peace in the education sector before the 2027 election cycle heats up. Watch for whether this increase effectively stops the exodus of Nigerian professors to foreign institutions or if inflation quickly erodes these gains.
Source: The Cable – https://www.thecable.ng/asuu-agreement-fg-begins-implementation-of-40-allowance-increase-for-varsity-lecturers/, February 10, 2026
Photo credit: The Cable
