By Our Education Correspondent
ABUJA – In a move that signals a potential end to years of industrial volatility within Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are scheduled to formally sign the renegotiated 2009 Agreement this Wednesday, 14th January.
The ceremony, which is to be held at the Ministry of Education, represents a significant diplomatic breakthrough following more than a decade of stalled negotiations and recurrent industrial action that has frequently paralysed the nation’s public universities.
In an official invitation dispatched to Vice-Chancellors of all federal universities, the Director of University Education, Rakiya Iliyasu, mandated their presence at the signing. Ms Iliyasu described the upcoming event as a “critical milestone” in the government’s efforts to foster industrial harmony and enhance the pedagogical environment across the federation.
The invitation further noted that the signing reaffirms the administration’s commitment to the “sustainable development of the education sector,” an area that has suffered significantly under the weight of a rift dating back to the original 2009 accord.
The journey to this agreement has been arduous, marked by five previous failed committees since formal renegotiations commenced in 2017. The current breakthrough follows a mutual understanding reached on 23rd December—the first substantive progress in seven years.
The successful negotiation was spearheaded by the “Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee,” led by the Pro-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Malam Yayale Ahmed. This committee, the sixth of its kind, was established in October following a two-week warning strike by ASUU, aimed at protesting the government’s perceived reluctance to finalise previous drafts.
The President of ASUU, Professor Chris Piwuna, confirmed that the union had reached specific accords with the government’s representatives. However, he indicated that a final meeting with the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, would take place to ensure the “utmost commitment” from the executive branch before the ink is dried on the document.
The renegotiated agreement introduces several sweeping reforms designed to improve the welfare of academic staff and the infrastructure of Nigerian universities:
- Remuneration: A 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff.
- Retirement & Pensions: Professors are now entitled to a pension equivalent to their full annual salary upon retirement at the age of 70.
- Research Funding: The establishment of a National Research Council (NRC), with statutory funding set at a minimum of one per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
- Institutional Autonomy: A renewed commitment to university autonomy and academic freedom, alongside increased allocations for libraries, laboratories, and staff development.
The signing on Wednesday aims to provide the closure that escaped previous mediation efforts. Since 2017, several distinguished figures have led negotiation committees without reaching a final implementation, including:
- Dr Wale Babalakin (2017–2020): Resigned before an agreement was reached.
- Professor Munzali Jibrin (2021): Produced a draft that remained unsigned.
- The late Professor Emeritus Nimi Briggs (2022): His committee’s draft was similarly set aside by the then-government.
Should the signing proceed as planned on Wednesday, it will mark the formal conclusion of a negotiation cycle that was originally due for completion in 2012, potentially ushering in a new era of stability for millions of Nigerian students and academic professionals.
