By Derick Peretengboro

Despite the commencement of the Federal Government’s new agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), uncertainty surrounds its implementation in many public universities, especially state-owned institutions.

While several federal universities have started paying lecturers under the revised salary arrangement, the majority of state universities are yet to adopt the new structure, raising concerns about widening disparities in staff welfare across Nigeria’s higher education sector.

Reports indicate that only about 10 state-owned universities have begun implementing aspects of the agreement, leaving lecturers in more than 50 state institutions waiting for their respective governments to approve and fund the salary adjustment.

Under the agreement, academic staff are expected to benefit from a 40 per cent salary increase, improved working conditions, enhanced academic allowances, and additional benefits for senior lecturers, professors, and readers. The package also provides for increased research funding, better welfare provisions, and a phased payment of outstanding entitlements.

Although lecturers in some federal institutions have already started receiving payments based on the revised structure, others are still awaiting implementation. The situation is even more challenging in many state universities, where financial constraints and pending approvals by governing councils and state governors have delayed the process.

At several institutions, university authorities are reportedly reviewing the agreement before forwarding it to governing councils for consideration. Even after council approval, implementation would still require the consent of the respective state governments, a process that could take additional time.

ASUU leaders in some regions have expressed dissatisfaction with the delays, warning that continued failure by state governments to implement the agreement could trigger industrial action. Some zonal branches of the union have already threatened strikes if their members continue to receive salaries under the old pay structure.

Education stakeholders have also warned that differences in salary packages between federal and state universities may encourage lecturers to leave state-owned institutions for better-paying federal universities. According to them, this could weaken teaching quality, research output, and academic stability in many states.

Analysts argue that Nigeria’s university system requires a uniform minimum standard for salaries and welfare, regardless of ownership, while allowing institutions with stronger financial capacity to provide additional incentives.

The agreement also includes the introduction of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), intended to support lecturers with research materials, conference participation, internet access, publications, books, and other professional expenses. In addition, the Federal Government pledged a multi-year stabilisation fund to strengthen universities and improve infrastructure and research.

ASUU’s national leadership has urged all state governments to begin implementing the agreement without delay, maintaining that equal treatment of lecturers across the country’s university system is essential for educational stability and improved academic performance.