DESPITE the Federal Government’s announcement that it has begun implementing the renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), there are strong indications that the implementation may have been selective.

While ASUU members at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) and a number of universities acknowledged receiving the 40 per cent salary increase in January, this is not the case with other tertiary institutions.

Findings showed that of the 74 federal universities, only ASUU members at UNIJOS and a few others received alerts about the new pay increase, while the majority of institutions received the old salary.

Investigations revealed that institutions that did not receive the new salary in January include the University of Abuja; Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE); Federal University, Otuoke; Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA); University of Calabar; Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko (NMU); Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale (FUK); and Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, among others.

Late Monday, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, announced that it had commenced the implementation of key welfare provisions contained in the renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The measures, it said, included a 40 per cent increase in the Consolidated Academic Allowance (CAA) as well as the introduction of the Consolidated Tools Allowance (CATA), effective from January 1, 2026.

In a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the ministry said the development underscored President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare of academic staff and ensuring stability within the university system.

The statement quoted the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, as explaining that the payments had been duly captured and circularised by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and incorporated into the 2026 budget in line with established statutory procedures.

However, findings by The Guardian across several federal universities revealed a contrasting reality. Lecturers, who spoke separately with our correspondent, disclosed that, with the exception of UNIJOS and a few others, they had yet to receive any benefits arising from the renegotiated agreement.

Shockingly, others disclosed that their institutions informed them that the agreement had not been captured in the 2026 budget and would only take effect from 2027.
Last month, The Guardian had reported that Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) had begun the immediate rollout of critical aspects of the 2025 agreement reached between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), becoming the first among the federal government-owned universities to implement the pact since its signing on December 23, 2025, and public presentation in January 2026.

Reacting, the ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, confirmed that the majority of its members were ‘left out’, adding that the matter was being addressed.
Piwuna also disclosed that the research aspect of the agreement had not yet been released as of the time of filing this report.

In a text message to our reporter yesterday, he said: “That is correct. Implementation has started, though with some challenges. We have cases of omission, and the majority of our members (branches) were left out. The number of universities receiving the new wage is increasing nationwide as of today.

“We got reports from Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, stating that medical doctors were left out, but that is being addressed. On the research aspect of the 2025 agreement, the minister and the office of the vice president are working to implement it, which is encouraging. The President gave them the nod to sign the agreement, we hope they will not fail him.