The Federal Government has approved new annual allowances that will see full-time professors in Nigerian universities paid an additional ₦1.8 million, while full-time readers will receive an additional ₦870,000 every year.
The allowances are part of a new agreement signed between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), marking a major change in the remuneration and welfare framework for academic staff after almost 17 years of disputes.
The agreement unveiled by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, includes a review of the 40 per cent increase in total emoluments for academic staff in federal universities and will take effect from January 1, 2026, following approval by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.
According to the minister, the review is aimed at improving staff morale, strengthening the quality of teaching and research, enhancing global competitiveness and addressing the persistent brain drain in Nigeria's university system.
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Under the new structure, the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) has been revised and combined with the new Consolidated Academic Equipment Allowance. The tool allowance is designed to cover professional expenses such as journal publishing, conference participation, Internet access, books and membership of learned societies.
The agreement reorganizes earned educational allowances into nine clearly defined categories, with payments strictly linked to duties performed. These include postgraduate supervision, fieldwork, clinical responsibilities, examination duties, moderation and academic leadership roles.
In addition, the government approved a dedicated professorial cadre allowance for senior academics applying for full-time professorships and readers. Under the plan, professors will receive ₦1.8 million annually, while readers will earn ₦870,000 per year.
Government officials said the allowance recognizes the expanded research, administrative and advising responsibilities of senior academics and is intended to support research coordination, documentation and academic administration.
Alausa described the agreement as a decisive step towards ending recurring industrial unrest in the university system, noting that negotiations over salaries and welfare had been ongoing since 2009 and that the academic calendar had been repeatedly disrupted.
The Minister said the government is committed to the full implementation of the agreement and continued engagement with ASUU, adding that the deal provides a more transparent, work-based and sustainable compensation framework for university academics.
