FG to ASUU: President Doesn’t Sign Collective Bargaining Agreement

The Federal Government (FG) has clarified its position on the longstanding renegotiation and signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), saying that no new agreement has yet been formally signed by the President, even after extended negotiations.

This development comes amid ongoing dialogue between the two parties over the upgrading of terms, conditions of service, funding of universities, and welfare demands that have triggered multiple strikes and negotiations over the years.

Status of the Agreement

According to a press statement by the Federal Ministry of Education in August 2025, the last formally signed agreement between the FG and ASUU remains the 2009 FGN–ASUU Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The statement explained that while various renegotiation committees have drafted updated agreements — most recently in 2021 under the Nimi Briggs Committee — these drafts were never formally executed or signed by the Federal Government.

The Education Ministry emphasised that when officials said there had been “no new signed agreement,” they were referring to these unsigned draft agreements, not a lack of effort to resolve disputes.

Why Signing Matters

For ASUU, formal signing of a renegotiated CBA by the President is critical because:

• Unsigned draft agreements are not legally binding or enforceable,

• ASUU views signature as an official commitment by government, and

• Repeated unsigned agreements undermine trust and prolong disputes.

Previous negotiations — including high-level talks involving multiple panels dating back to 2017 — have repeatedly produced draft agreements, but none were executed into law until recently.

However, in January 2026, the FG and ASUU teams signed a comprehensive renegotiated agreement that was widely reported as designed to finally replace the 2009 pact and reduce frequent strikes in the university system.

Recent Developments

✔️ January 14, 2026: A new agreement was signed that includes a 40% pay review, structured academic tools allowance, and provisions for research funding.
✔️ ASUU’s President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, expressed hope that the pact would prevent strikes for at least three years if properly implemented.
✔️ Despite these steps, references to no formal presidential signature on past draft agreements remain a key historical grievance cited by ASUU.

Government’s Clarification

The Education Ministry has stressed that the 2009 agreement remains the last formally signed CBA until the new 2025/2026 renegotiated pact comes fully into force. Officials urged the public to ignore misinterpretations, suggesting that no progress has been made, noting that recent developments do involve executed agreements.

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FAQs — FG, ASUU & the Collective Bargaining Agreement

Has the President signed a new ASUU Collective Bargaining Agreement?
The 2009 agreement was the last formally signed pact. Drafts produced afterwards — including the Nimi Briggs Committee’s — were not signed by the government until the new 2026 agreement process.

What agreement is FG referring to now?
The government recognises a renegotiated agreement finalised in January 2026, which replaces the outdated 2009 pact with improved terms.

Why does ASUU insist on the President’s signature?
ASUU believes that a formal presidential signature makes the agreement legally binding and ensures implementation of the agreed terms. Drafts are seen as incomplete commitments.

What issues have prolonged ASUU negotiations?
Key sticking points historically include university funding, earned academic allowances, implementation timelines, and structural reforms, leading to repeated renegotiation efforts.

Will the new 2026 agreement reduce strikes?
ASUU leadership hopes that the newly signed pact — focusing on salary improvements and structural reforms — will ensure industrial peace for at least three years if fully implemented.