Retired professors in accredited public universities across Nigeria are set to receive pension benefits amounting to their annual salaries as outlined in a new agreement with the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The pact confirms that any academic staff who retires as a professor will be entitled to a pension calculated at 100 percent of their yearly salary, marking a notable advancement in post-service welfare for these senior educators.
However, the agreement specifies that only professors who have served continuously in a recognized institution until reaching mandatory retirement will be eligible.
The detailed 35-page document obtained by The Guardian also establishes the retirement age for professors at 70 years. Section 3.6 of the agreement discusses the pension rights for academic personnel and stipulates, "An academic staff member retiring as a professor from an accredited university shall receive a pension equivalent to their annual salary, provided they have served uninterruptedly until retirement age."
During the agreement's presentation in Abuja, stakeholders expressed that these measures aim to acknowledge the significant contributions of professors in teaching, research, and administrative duties while enhancing morale within the academic sector.
The provisions are expected to foster career progression and retain experienced scholars, addressing the troubling trend of migration known as the Japa syndrome affecting the nation’s higher education institutions.
In 2025, ASUU reported that over 300 professors had vacated the public university system in just one month.
Furthermore, Section 3.4 of the agreement, which pertains to non-salary conditions of service, introduces provisions for six-month maternity leave for eligible female academic staff.
It states, "Qualified female academic staff will be entitled to a maternity leave of six months as per the existing Public Service Rules."
A significant aspect of the agreement is the establishment of a new Professorial Cadre Allowance for full-time professors and readers. Professors will receive an annual allowance of N1.74 million, translating to N140,000 monthly, while Readers will earn N840,000 annually or N70,000 per month.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, described the renegotiated agreement as a momentous development that embodies renewed trust and commitment to maintaining uninterrupted academic sessions in Nigerian universities.
In a related response, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) praised the Federal Government and ASUU for the establishment of this groundbreaking agreement aimed at enhancing stability and quality within Nigeria’s tertiary education framework.
In a statement issued by Michael Oyewole, Chief Press Secretary to NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, he emphasized that this agreement signifies a new chapter for the country’s higher education, aiming to improve the welfare of academic staff and ensure an uninterrupted academic calendar for students.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!