Nigeria Gives Professors ₦140k Monthly Raise

University professors across Nigeria just got a significant boost that recognizes the heart they pour into educating the next generation.

The Federal Government signed a landmark agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities this week, guaranteeing professors an additional ₦140,000 monthly allowance. Readers, the next academic rank down, will receive ₦70,000 extra each month.

Education Minister Tunji Alausa announced the details during a television interview Wednesday, explaining that the benefit applies to all full-time professors and readers in Nigerian universities. The allowance comes on top of a separate 40% salary increase for all university teaching staff across the country.

The agreement replaces a 2009 arrangement that had long been criticized as outdated. It acknowledges the significant workload that senior academics carry, from research and publication to administrative duties and mentoring younger faculty members.

Alausa emphasized that the government has secured full funding for the initiative before announcing it publicly. "When the president was convinced that he had the funding, he signed off," the minister said, addressing concerns about whether the raises would actually materialize.

The new framework includes nine enhanced academic allowances in total, with clear responsibility divided between individual universities and the federal government. This structure aims to prevent the payment delays and disputes that have plagued previous agreements.

The Ripple Effect

Investing in professors creates waves that reach far beyond campus walls. When senior academics feel valued and financially secure, they stay in Nigeria rather than seeking opportunities abroad, preserving institutional knowledge and mentoring expertise.

Better compensation also attracts talented young scholars to academic careers, strengthening research capacity across the nation. Universities produce the doctors, engineers, teachers, and innovators who drive progress in every sector.

The funding commitment signals a shift in how Nigeria prioritizes education infrastructure. After years of strikes and stalled negotiations over unpaid allowances, this fully funded agreement offers stability that benefits students, faculty, and the entire higher education system.

Thousands of professors will see the difference in their next paycheck, a tangible recognition that their work matters.