Federal Government Approves 40% Pay Rise and New Allowance for Lecturers

The Federal Government has announced a historic welfare package for university lecturers, featuring a 40 percent salary increase and the introduction of a new professorial cadre allowance. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed these details on Wednesday, signaling a major breakthrough in the nation’s tertiary education sector.

Under the new agreement, professors in federal institutions will receive a monthly top-up of over ₦140,000. Dr. Alausa explained that this "professorial cadre allowance" was specifically created by President Bola Tinubu to recognize the highest level of academic staff and encourage excellence within the university system.

​This development follows the signing of the 2025 FGN–ASUU agreement, which effectively ends a 16-year deadlock over the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement. The Minister described the milestone as a reflection of the President's resolve to ensure quality, accessible, and uninterrupted university education for all Nigerians.

​Dr. Alausa assured the public that the government has already secured the necessary funding to implement the 40 percent salary hike. He noted that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission worked through the end of December to ensure that the necessary circulars were released to back up the financial component of the deal.

The agreement also includes structured definitions for nine distinct "Earned Academic Allowances," clarifying what lecturers are paid for and at what cost. The Minister emphasized that the administration’s focus is on effective implementation, stating that the President refused to sign any agreement that the government could not realistically fund.