By Sylvester Odion Akhaine

Good morning, Mr President. It was the renowned African Statesman, Nelson Mandela, who said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Today, I address the issue of the academic staff salary review based on the agreement between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government, the second since the 2009 agreement.

The agreement signed on December 23, 2025, was commendable in injecting vitality into the education system by addressing the welfare of stakeholders in our tertiary institutions.  Mr President, the condition under which academics live and work in this country is unpalatable and unspeakable. We are poorly paid, and a nation without a strong education foundation, in other words, a nation without critical thinkers, is ready for the social Darwinism of the prevailing century. Ideas are mightier than F-35 and Su-57 fighters. In a century backtracking to jungle imperialism, we certainly need a bulwark of educated citizens, and we in academia are the vanguard of this social enterprise.

Mr President, the matter is the implementation of the FGN/ASUU Agreement signed in 2025, and scheduled to commence in January 2026.  The key components are: revised remuneration under the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS); and the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA). The salary component has been raised to 40 per cent for academic staff effective from January 1, 2026.

The CATA component is based on academic staff’s ranking, and covers costs of journal publications; conference participation; internet access; membership of learned societies; books and other academic resources. Other components of the agreement include Professorial Cadre Allowance, and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) on postgraduate supervision; industrial training and teaching-practice supervision; postgraduate oral examinations; external moderation; postgraduate study grants; responsibility allowances; and excess workload. They complement the perennial demands for autonomy, increased funding, academic freedom, research and development, and pension.  It is good news that FGN agreed with ASUU and signed off.  But the taste of the pudding is in the eating. How is the implementation going?

Implementation has begun selectively across the country. According to The Guardian reports earlier this month, “some federal-owned universities, such as the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the University of Ibadan (UI), the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka; Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife, and the University of Port Harcourt, are already reaping the benefits of the implementation. Others, like the University of Abuja, Bayero University, Kano (BUK), and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), have yet to see implementation and could engender trade disputes.

The same situation exists at the subnational level. Some states across the country have started implementing the terms of this new agreement, especially the salary component. As reported by The Guardian, only 10 states have complied with implementing CATA and related arrears.

he Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU); Ekiti State University, Gaudu, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, Olabisis Onabanjo University, Osun State university, Benue state university, Sokoto State University, Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education and Abia State University are reportedly implementing the deal.

Others have not yet started paying, leading to arrears, often a basis for future crisis in the ivory towers. These include the three Lagos State-owned universities, namely, Lagos State University, Lagos State University of Education and Lagos State University of Science and Technology. Others are Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Adekunle Ajasin University; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology; Delta State University, Abraka; University of Delta, Agbor; Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; and Southern Delta University, Ozoro, among others.

The academic staff unions in Lagos State, through a joint action committee, have engaged with the government to implement the FGN-FG agreement. The unions made it clear to the state government to implement the policy early enough to avoid accumulated arrears and to ensure industrial harmony in its own institutions. In this regard, several exchanges have ensued between the unions and the state government from February to July this year alone. The Technical Committee made up of Union and Lagos State Government representatives reached an understanding on many points at issue in the FGN/ASUU agreement. The communique, a product of their engagement, however, has discontent. The state government insists on a 30/35 percent ratio instead of the 40 per cent (Academic) and 35 per cent (Non-Academic) contained in the FGN/Unions Agreement reportedly adopted at the Technical Committee meeting. The unions had also introduced “Lagos Factor” into the negotiation due to the peculiar straining conditions of working in Lagos. Nevertheless, Lagos State appears bent on undermining the FG position.

If others are irresolute, Lagos State should not be in that pack for several reasons. One, Lagos is the richest state in the country. Two, it is the president’s domain and all its governors are his protégés, and somewhat duty-bound to implement policies initiated by FG under your leadership, a domino effect for other states. The state has no excuse. After all, Mr President, you have put more money in the kitty of state governments. Lagos State must lead.

Note to the readers: The column will be on recess till November. This is without prejudice to other periodic interventions on public matters.

Professor Akhaine is with the Lagos State University.