Abuja, Nigeria | September 4, 2025
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has renewed its push for better remuneration for Nigerian professors, heightening tensions in its long-running face-off with the Federal Government.
Verified reports from reputable outlets, including Punch (August 28, 30), Daily Trust, and Legit.ng, confirm that Nigerian professors currently earn between ₦525,000 and ₦633,000 per month under the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS). ASUU argues that this wage is inadequate in the face of galloping inflation, rising living costs, and poor welfare support in the education sector.
The union is demanding a minimum of ₦2.5 million monthly for professors, citing disparities with salaries of academic staff in other African nations and the urgent need to attract and retain talent in Nigerian universities. ASUU leaders have also emphasized the Federal Government’s failure to fully implement the renegotiated 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement, which outlines improved conditions of service.
Government officials have acknowledged the concerns but insist that ongoing fiscal constraints require further negotiations before any upward review is approved. Discussions remain inconclusive, with both sides under pressure to avoid another strike that could paralyze Nigeria’s already fragile university system.
