ASUU vs FG in 2025: Which Agreements Are Still Unmet—and What Happens Next

As the new academic session unfolds, tensions between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government (FG) have flared once again.

Negotiations resumed in Abuja on August 28, 2025, in what stakeholders are calling a make-or-break round, aimed at preventing fresh disruptions to university calendars across Nigeria.

Both sides face mounting pressure: students and parents want stability, while lecturers demand overdue entitlements and structural reforms.

Outstanding Issues According to ASUU

At the heart of the dispute is the 2009 agreement, which ASUU says remains largely unimplemented. Key demands include the full renegotiation and signing of the salary structure, university autonomy provisions, and adequate funding benchmarks.

Lecturers are also pressing for the release of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), revitalisation funds, completion of governing councils, and outstanding salary arrears.

A longstanding flashpoint is the payment platform. ASUU favours the University Transparency and Accountability System (UTAS) over the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), arguing that interim payments under IPPIS compromise transparency and autonomy.

Pay and Working Conditions Under Scrutiny

Salary levels remain a central concern. Reports indicate that current CONUASS pay scales place professors between ₦525,010 and ₦633,333 monthly, while graduate assistants earn between ₦125,000 and ₦138,020.

ASUU argues that these figures are insufficient given rising living costs and the responsibilities of academic staff, prompting calls for a comprehensive review.

Government Signals and Negotiation Offers

The Federal Government has signalled willingness to review salaries and implement broader reforms, though specifics remain under discussion.

Coverage suggests the FG is seeking a holistic settlement that would incorporate both immediate salary adjustments and the pending elements of the 2009 agreement.

Negotiations are ongoing, with officials emphasising the need for measurable timelines and deliverables to avoid further disruptions.

The outcome of these talks could play out in three main scenarios:

1. Deal in Principle: A signed agreement covering salary structures, arrears, and governance matters could pause strikes if supported by clear timelines and releases.
   
2. Bridging Offer, No Signatures: Partial concessions without formal commitments could see continued “work-to-rule” actions or campus-by-campus industrial measures.
   
3. Collapse: Failure to reach an agreement could trigger what ASUU has described as the “mother of all strikes,” potentially shutting down universities nationwide once more.