| FG shifted pay rise responsibility to varsities, ASUU leader claims
BY HENRY TYOHEMBA, Abuja, FRANCIS OKOYE, Maiduguri, ABU NMODU, Minna, ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos, PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin, ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt, ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan, SAMUEL ABULUDE, Lagos, JOSUA DADA, Osogbo, FEMI OYEWESO, Abeokuta
Fresh concerns over the implementation of the 40 per cent salary increase for university lecturers have emerged across the federal university system, with some institutions unable to pay the full salary package.
The development, nearly eight months after the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) reached agreement on the increase, has seen some universities discontinue payments they had initially commenced, citing inadequate funds.
LEADERSHIP’s findings across some federal universities showed that institutions that began implementing the increase were forced to suspend it after their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) could no longer sustain the additional wage bill.
Top ASUU officials told our correspondents that following the signing of the renegotiated agreement by the federal government and the union on January 14, 2026, with the 40 per cent upward review of academic staff remuneration backdated to January 1, the government directed universities to fund the increase from their IGR.
None of the ASUU officials, however, could produce the purported federal government memo directing universities to do so.
The federal government had announced on February 1 that implementation of the increase had commenced and directed federal universities to incorporate the new salaries into their payroll systems. Despite this, implementation has remained uneven.
By August, several universities were yet to fully implement the increase, while some that had begun paying it had stopped. The development has prompted ASUU branches to issue ultimatums and demand compliance with the agreement.
Most university managements contacted by LEADERSHIP declined to explain the reasons for the shortfalls.
For institutions that have continued to pay their lecturers in full, senior ASUU officials expressed surprise at how their vice-chancellors had managed to sustain the payments despite the funding challenges.
How UNIBEN Blew The Lid On Half Salaries
Although some universities had reportedly been experiencing payment difficulties since May, the issue remained largely out of the public domain until the ASUU branch of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) raised the alarm on Monday.
Academic activities at UNIBEN were overshadowed by anxiety after lecturers received only half of their August salaries, while non-academic staff reportedly received their full salaries.
Sources at the university said the payment excluded the usual allowances, leaving many lecturers, particularly those servicing loans obtained through the university, distressed.
In a notice to members, the UNIBEN ASUU branch said it had met with the university administration over the development and urged members not to panic.
The notice, signed by the branch secretary, Dr L. O. Aimiyekagbon, said the union had been assured by the university authorities that additional salary alerts would be received.
Sources familiar with the matter, however, said the university paid the August salaries from its IGR following the federal government’s failure to release its monthly subvention to the institution.
Yesterday, the branch chairman, Enaruna Edosa, said the executive committee would meet before convening a congress to determine the union’s response.
