The federal government is set to formally sign a long-awaited agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) after weeks of intense negotiations.

The Federal Ministry of Education, in a circular dated January 5, 2026, invited vice-chancellors and registrars of federal universities to witness the signing ceremony in Abuja.

“I am directed to invite you to the official ceremony for the signing of the agreement between the federal government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), scheduled as follows: Date: Wednesday, 14 January 2026; Time: 11:00am; Venue: Conference Hall.

“This signing represents a critical milestone in promoting industrial harmony and improving teaching and learning in our universities,” read the circular signed by the director of university education, R.G Ilyasu.

The circular added that the signing reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to the sustainable development of education in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

The latest development came weeks after ASUU accepted a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff as proposed by the federal government.

The agreement, which became effective January 1, is expected to be reviewed every three years, marking an improvement in the negotiations between the two parties following the 2009 agreement.

Other provisions under the new terms include the establishment of a National Research Council to fund research with at least one per cent of Nigeria’s gross domestic product, improved funding for libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff development, greater university autonomy, and the election of academic leaders, with only professors eligible to serve as deans and provosts.