Nigeria Ends Strike Era in Public Universities with New Deal

On Tuesday, the Federal Government of Nigeria declared the end of the strike era in public universities, ensuring that tertiary institutions will remain open for the academic session. This announcement follows a new agreement signed with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on January 14, 2026, which includes a 40% salary increase for academic staff and improved pension provisions.

The agreement is set to take effect on January 1, 2026. Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, confirmed that outstanding issues that have historically led to disputes have been resolved.

The agreement also includes clauses for a review every three years to ensure stability. The commitment to fund public universities has been reaffirmed, with the government promising to prioritize budget allocations to support the new salary structure.

This resolution marks a significant shift from a history of frequent strikes that have disrupted academic activities in Nigerian universities since 1999.