The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are scheduled to formalise a landmark agreement on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, in Abuja, signalling a major breakthrough in efforts to resolve a prolonged impasse that has affected public universities nationwide.

The agreement-signing ceremony will take place at 11:00 a.m. in the Conference Hall of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), according to an official circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Education.

The document, dated January 5, 2026 and referenced FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.11/Vol.V/82, was signed by Rakiya Ilyasu, Director of University Education, on behalf of the Minister of Education.

The circular invited vice-chancellors and registrars of all federal universities to witness the ceremony, underscoring the significance attached to the agreement and its implementation.

According to the invitation, the signing represents a critical milestone in promoting industrial harmony and improving teaching and learning conditions in Nigeria’s university system.

It also reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of the education sector, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The agreement comes after weeks of intensive negotiations and follows the union’s acceptance of a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff, a key demand that had stalled talks for months.

Under the new terms, the salary adjustment will take effect from January 1, 2026, and is subject to review after three years.

Additional provisions are expected to include improved pension benefits — with professors eligible to retire at age 70 receiving pensions equivalent to their final annual salary — and the establishment of a National Research Council mandated to fund research with at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Other key components of the agreement reportedly include enhanced funding for libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff development, strengthened university autonomy, and academic leadership reforms.

The deal marks the culmination of efforts to end more than 16 years of renegotiation and recurrent industrial actions tied to the 2009 FG–ASUU Agreement, which has remained a source of friction between the government and the union.

The forthcoming signing has generated high expectations among stakeholders, with many Nigerians hopeful that it will usher in lasting peace in the tertiary education sector and prevent further disruptions to academic calendars.