The Federal Government has offered a 40% salary increase to academic staff in a renewed effort to stabilise public universities and avert a nationwide shutdown.
The proposal will form part of a new negotiation round between government representatives and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The latest offer follows internal consultations within ASUU’s leadership, which resolved to reopen discussions with the government after reviewing the union’s outstanding demands and recent engagements.
Branch leaders across the country are expected to brief their members ahead of the next negotiation session.
Government officials familiar with the process confirmed that the 40% adjustment is intended to ease long-standing wage concerns within the university system and address one of the major triggers of industrial action.
The proposal comes at a time when the union’s earlier ultimatum to the government has expired, raising anxiety across public tertiary institutions.
The Federal Government has been under pressure to prevent further disruption in academic calendars following repeated shutdowns in recent years.
Ministers overseeing the education sector have maintained that the administration is committed to keeping campuses open and resolving labour issues through dialogue.
While details of the broader negotiation package remain confidential, outstanding matters include the review of previous government–union agreements, payment of outstanding entitlements to academic staff, and funding commitments for university revitalisation.
The Ministry of Education has repeatedly stated that it is working to align government actions with presidential directives aimed at ensuring uninterrupted academic activity.
Senior officials insist that the administration has made progress on several of the union’s concerns and will continue to engage until a final agreement is reached.
Labour groups monitoring developments have indicated that they will support lecturers if negotiations stall or if commitments are not met. They have urged both sides to prioritise long-term stability in the tertiary education sector.