President Tinubu Praised Over University Pay Deal

A Nigerian pro-government advocacy group, the Democratic Front (TDF), has welcomed the “speedy” implementation of a new welfare agreement between the federal government and university lecturers.

The move aims to end decades of industrial instability that has frequently paralyzed the country’s public higher education system.

A Shift in Strategy

In a statement released on Monday, the TDF lauded President Bola Tinubu for fulfilling promises made to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Central to the praise is the rollout of a 40% increase in the Consolidated Academic Allowance (CAA) for lecturers. The group’s Chairman, Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Wale Adedayo, argued that the swift action marks a departure from previous administrations, where stalled negotiations often led to years of academic disruption.”For decades, Nigeria has laboured under the agony of persistent neglect… but with the swift implementation of this renegotiated agreement, the outlook for uninterrupted academic sessions is brighter,” the statement read.

The Cost of Strikes

The TDF highlighted the severe economic toll of the country’s “incessant” strikes. Frequent closures of public universities have historically driven wealthy and middle-class Nigerians to seek education abroad. According to data cited by the group:$1.39bn (N2.16tn): Amount spent by Nigerians on foreign education in the first half of 2025 alone.

The Impact: This drain on foreign exchange reserves has hampered internal socioeconomic growth. By stabilizing the domestic calendar, the TDF hopes to restore faith in the local system, ensuring that a standard four-year degree no longer stretches to seven years due to industrial action.

What’s Next for Nigerian Universities?

While the TDF’s optimism is high, the long-term success of the agreement will depend on the government’s ability to sustain these payments amidst Nigeria’s ongoing fiscal challenges. For now, the group has called on the public to support the President’s efforts to “reposition” the nation’s educational standards.