FG’s ASUU deal sparks outrage as only UNIJOS confirms payment

2026-02-11 - 00:19

By Joseph Erunke Abuja—Strong indications have emerged that the Federal Government’s much-publicised implementation of the renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, may be selective, as investigations revealed that only the University of Jos, UNIJOS, has so far confirmed benefiting from the new package. Lecturers in several federal universities, including the University of Abuja; Federal University of Lafia, FULAFIA; University of Calabar; University of Maiduguri; and the Federal University, Lokoja, have faulted claims by the Federal Ministry of Education that implementation had commenced nationwide. Recall that on Monday night, the Ministry of Education announced that the Federal Government had begun implementing key welfare components of the renegotiated ASUU agreement. These include a 40 per cent increase in the Consolidated Academic Allowance, CAA, effective January 1, 2026, and the rollout of the Consolidated Tools Allowance, CATA. In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the ministry said the move reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare of academic staff and stability in the university system. The statement quoted the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as saying the payments had been captured and circularised by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC, and included in the 2026 budget as part of statutory processes. However, checks by Vanguard across federal universities painted a different picture as lecturers interviewed, separately, said apart from UNIJOS, they were yet to receive any benefits tied to the newly renegotiated agreement. Some disclosed that they were informed by their institutions that the agreement was not captured in the 2026 budget and would only be implemented in the next fiscal year. A lecturer and executive member of ASUU at the Federal University of Lafia confirmed that while the institution had paid Earned Academic Allowance and what was described as responsibility allowance, the new agreement had not been implemented. He said: “For FULAFIA, no, the new agreement has not been implemented. We were told that it was not captured in the 2026 budget and that implementation would come next year. Yet, we are hearing that UNIJOS has started benefiting. That is what is confusing. “Why were we officially told that the renegotiated ASUU agreement was not captured in the 2026 budget, yet UNIJOS is already benefiting from the same agreement? “If the Federal Government claims nationwide implementation, why has FULAFIA only received earned allowance and responsibility allowance, not the new CAA and CATA? On what basis was UNIJOS prioritised while other federal universities were asked to wait till the next fiscal year?” A lecturer at the University of Abuja expressed similar frustration, saying staff were yet to see any changes. He added: “Na so we read am for newspaper oo, but we never see anything here!” he said jokingly in pigin English. Another lecturer contacted at the University of Calabar, refuted the government’s claim, saying they were still being paid old salaries, adding that they were still awaiting implementation of the new agreement in the school. Similarly, a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, who was asked to confirm the implementation, said his school was yet to benefit from the renegotiated agreement, faulting the government’s statement. Vanguard’s findings from the Federal University, Lokoja, in Kogi State, is not different as a lecturer confirmed that they were yet to receive the new benefits based on the renegotiated agreement between the federal government and ASUU. Efforts were made to get clarification from ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, on whether the renegotiated agreement was being implemented across federal universities as claimed by the government and whether members nationwide have begun to receive the approved increases. But at press time last night, he was yet to respond. The development has heightened concerns within ASUU circles, with lecturers warning that selective implementation of agreements could further strain relations between the union and the federal government.