ASUU, FG Reach New Agreement, Approve 40% Salary Increase from 2026

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government of Nigeria have concluded negotiations on the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU–FG agreement, with the new deal scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.

ASUU disclosed this in a statement published on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, announcing that the agreement was finalised on December 23, 2025, after prolonged negotiations. According to the union, the agreement will be reviewed every three years.

The renegotiated agreement places strong emphasis on improved welfare for university lecturers and enhanced funding for public universities. Key provisions include a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff and significantly improved pension benefits.

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Under the new terms, professors will earn pensions equivalent to their annual salary upon retirement at the age of 70, a move ASUU described as a major boost to post-service welfare in the university system.

The agreement also introduces a new funding framework for public universities, with dedicated allocations for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff development. A National Research Council is to be established to drive research and innovation, with funding pegged at a minimum of one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Other provisions include strengthened university autonomy and academic freedom, the election of academic leaders such as deans and provosts restricted to professors, and assurances that no academic staff will be victimised for participating in past industrial actions.

ASUU urged the Federal Government to ensure the prompt and faithful implementation of the agreement, while also calling for the extension of similar negotiations to other university-based unions in order to promote lasting stability in Nigeria’s university system.

ASUU, FG Reach New Agreement, Approve 40% Salary Increase from 2026

NOUN Student Dies After Collapsing During Examination at Victoria Island Centre

A student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Michael Coker, has reportedly died after collapsing during an examination at the institution’s Victoria Island study centre in Lagos.

The tragic incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 16, while students were preparing to sit for an examination. Witnesses said Coker suddenly collapsed inside the examination hall and allegedly lay unattended for several minutes while gasping for breath.

A fellow student, identified as Bukola, alleged that a female senior lecturer and invigilator prevented students from assisting the distressed student.

“It happened shortly after we entered the hall. Coker was standing when he suddenly collapsed. Another student held him and laid him on the floor,” Bukola said.

She claimed that the invigilator from a nearby hall ordered students to return to their seats instead of attending to the collapsed student.

“She kept chasing everyone away to continue writing the exam, even though he was on the floor gasping. When told a student had collapsed, she said in Yoruba, ‘E fi sílẹ̀, ó máa dìde’ (Leave him; he will get up),” Bukola alleged.

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According to her, Coker reportedly remained on the floor for over 15 minutes, during which students expressed concern and attempted to understand his condition, but were repeatedly stopped.

“It took several minutes before help came. Even moving him to a chair took another five minutes. By then, his breathing was very bad,” she said.

Bukola added that a nurse later arrived, administered first aid, and Coker was taken downstairs via an elevator. Students were reportedly instructed to continue with their examination and were only informed after the exam that Coker had died.

Another student and class representative, Prince Preskit, confirmed that Coker collapsed while attempting to log into the examination system.

“I think the invigilator initially wanted people to give him space. When it became obvious that it was serious, he was taken downstairs and rushed to the hospital,” Preskit said.

He disclosed that Coker was taken to Bonny Camp Hospital, but later died while being moved to another medical facility.

However, Bonny Camp Hospital denied claims that it rejected the student.

“The patient was not rejected,” a hospital official told Punch. “He was referred to another hospital where oxygen would be available.”

The incident has since sparked outrage among students, with many calling for a thorough investigation into the handling of the emergency during the examination.

NOUN Student Dies After Collapsing During Examination at Victoria Island Centre

FG Spends Over ₦150bn on 788,000 Students Through NELFUND — Information Minister

The Federal Government has disbursed over ₦150 billion to support about 788,000 students under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) initiative, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has disclosed.

Idris made this known on Monday in Abuja during the end-of-year media briefing, where he highlighted key achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly in the education sector.

According to the minister, 2025 marked a major milestone in targeted policy formulation and implementation, with a strong focus on empowering young Nigerians.

“NELFUND has now supported over 788,000 Nigerian students with interest-free education loans and stipends amounting to over ₦150 billion, and the figure is still increasing,” Idris said.

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He also announced that the Federal Government’s Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme officially took off in 2025, backed by a multi-million-dollar venture fund aimed at boosting creative and digital entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths.

In addition, Idris revealed that the government launched the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG) during the year.

According to him, the S-VCG provides equity-free funding of up to ₦50 million to undergraduate innovators in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) disciplines across accredited tertiary institutions.

“With this intervention, Nigeria is nurturing entrepreneurship on its campuses and turning some of its brightest minds into job creators rather than job seekers,” he said.

The minister further noted that the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme recorded significant progress in 2025, as the government continues efforts to build Africa’s largest digital talent workforce.

FG Spends Over ₦150bn on 788,000 Students Through NELFUND — Information Minister