Professors in Nigeria’s public universities will receive a monthly salary top-up of about ₦140,000 under a new agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The deal replaces the 2009 FG–ASUU agreement and follows fresh negotiations aimed at improving pay and easing labour disputes in the university system.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, confirmed the details on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, a day after the agreement was signed in Abuja. He said the allowance applies only to full-time professors and readers. Professors will earn more than ₦140,000 monthly, while readers will receive an extra ₦70,000.
“This allowance is for professors,” Alausa said. “As long as you’re a full-time professor or you’re a reader, you’ll get that additional top-up. It is calculated on annual salary but paid monthly.” He added that part-time academics are excluded from the benefit.
The agreement includes a 40 per cent review of emoluments for university teaching staff and introduces a formal professorial cadre allowance for the first time. The allowance is meant to reflect the teaching, research, and administrative roles of senior academics. The government said it has secured funding for the package, with President Bola Tinubu approving it after assurances on sustainability.
Officials expect the new deal to reduce frequent strike actions that have disrupted academic calendars for years. The agreement also defines nine academic allowances and clarifies how payment responsibilities are shared between universities and the Federal Government.
