By Wingidinipre Fredrick

The conditions in which people teach and learn belong at the centre of any serious assessment of education policy. Dependable remuneration, professional development and functioning institutions are standards by which I believe a government’s record should be judged. In my assessment, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education record provides substantial grounds for supporting his re-election in 2027. The public record contains identifiable salary decisions, negotiated agreements, staff-support initiatives and institutional interventions. My support rests on the measures documented here and on the case for carrying them through.

(1). *Advancing The Earlier Tertiary Salary Review*

In September 2023, as reported in the PUNCH, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission approved a revised salary arrangements for federal tertiary institutions. The lower proposed increase rose from 23.5 per cent to 25 per cent, while a 35 per cent rate was retained for professors and chief lecturers, with effect from January 2023. An NUC report of September 2022 establishes that the underlying offer predated Tinubu. [1, 2] Tinubu deserves credit for advancing and refining an inherited salary-review commitment.

(2). *Paying four months of previously withheld ASUU salaries*

On 20 October 2023, Tinubu authorised the release of four months of salaries withheld following the 2022 ASUU strike. In September 2026, PUNCH reported ASUU’s acknowledgement that his administration had paid those four months. The union continued to demand a further three and a half months. [3, 4]

(3). *Announcing releases for earned allowances and arrears*

The Ministry of Education announced the release of ₦50 billion on 23 April 2025 for earned allowances of academic and non-academic staff unions in federal universities. On 29 October 2025, it separately reported the release of ₦2.311 billion as Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. [5, 6] These announced releases were intended to address outstanding financial obligations. The October statement said institutions should subsequently begin receiving payment alerts. [6]

(4) *Renegotiating academic pay and conditions*

The government formally unveiled the renegotiated 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement on 14 January 2026. The Ministry’s account describes a 40 per cent upward review of university academic emoluments, effective from 01 January 2026, alongside revised academic allowances. [7] In August 2026, PUNCH newspapers quoted union representatives at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and Bayero University confirming payments under the new arrangements. In my view, the negotiated agreement is a substantial achievement.

(5). *Approving exemption from IPPIS*

On 13 December 2023, the Federal Executive Council approved the exemption of federal universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System. Contemporary reporting quotes the Information and Education Ministers explaining the decision. [9] I regard the willingness to reconsider a contested payroll arrangement as a useful administrative response to a nagging problem.

(6) *Providing a staff support loan scheme.*

The Bank of Industry identifies the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund as a Federal Ministry of Education intervention managed by the bank. Its programme page describes interest-free loans of up to ₦10 million for eligible academic and non-academic staff of public tertiary institutions, with a five-year tenor and a twelve-month moratorium. [10] This establishes the scheme and the terms described by its administrator.

(7) *Extending negotiated reforms across tertiary education*

In its 13 October 2026 statement, the Ministry of Education reported agreements covering academic and non-academic unions. These include the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance for eligible polytechnic and college-of-education academics and the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance for eligible non-teaching personnel. It also announced an expanded implementation and monitoring framework. [11] These are documented agreements and announced implementation arrangements. I consider the wider coverage and provision for monitoring useful foundations for lasting industrial cooperation.

(8). *Releasing arrears to avert a threatened disruption*

On 07 October 2026, Channels Television reported SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim’s confirmation of the release of eight months’ arrears associated with the 2026 agreement. He said the threatened industrial action had been averted. These arrears concern that agreement, rather than the salaries withheld after the 2022 strike. [12] The union leader’s confirmation provides a specific example of a release associated with averting a threatened disruption.

(9) *Approving a recruitment process for PTA teachers*

The Education Minister announced in August 2026 that Tinubu had approved the recruitment process for 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association teachers serving Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges. The report expressly stated that statutory requirements and further recruitment processes remained. [13] The achievement documented is approval of the process. Completing the process would, in my assessment, be an important contribution to employment security.

(10). *Supporting teacher professional development*

UBEC’s account of the national flag-off held on 07 April 2025 describes its 2023/2024 Teacher Professional Development programme as targeting more than 223,000 teachers and education managers. It states that ₦598 million was allocated to each state for training. [14] These are the agency’s stated target and allocation. The initiative provides a basis for recognising attention to professional development in the education sector under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

(11). *Launching continuing professional development through EduRevamp*

At the January 2026 Teachers’ Summit, the Education Minister announced the launch of EduRevamp as a continuing professional-development programme. PUNCH’s report of 28 January records the announcement and its stated focus on teacher training.[15] If faithfully implementated, this is a laudable achievement.

(12). *Recognising teaching excellence*

Contemporary reporting of the January 2026 summit records that twelve teachers were honoured with national prizes. The Ministry’s October 2026 World Teachers’ Day statement also reports the digitalisation of selection for the President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards and the presentation of prizes. [15, 16 These are traceable acts of recognition, which should be assessed alongside the continuing responsibility to provide dependable pay, fair promotion and professional support.

(13) *Allocating institutional support and reporting completed facilities*

For its 2026 intervention, TETFund announced allocations of approximately ₦2.526 billion per beneficiary public university, ₦1.871 billion per polytechnic and ₦2.057 billion per college of education. The agency’s account also acknowledges delays by some institutions in accessing previous allocations. These are announced allocations, rather than proof of expenditure. [17] In its statement dated 29 May 2026 and published on 30 May, the Presidency reported the commissioning of a science complex at Nasarawa State College of Education, a classroom complex at Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, a biodiversity and conservation centre at the Nigerian Defence Academy, and a completed hostel at Sa’adu Zungur University. [18]

(14). *Sustaining identifiable research support*

On 20 June 2026, Ekiti State University reported that two of its professors had secured TETFund National Research Fund awards totalling ₦72.4 million. Its notice identifies individual awards of ₦44.8 million and ₦27.6 million for research concerning microplastics and materials for wound-healing applications. [19] Although this is a specific institutional report of awards secured, I regard such research opportunities as a relevant part of support for academic work.

(15). *Supporting basic school improvement*

UBEC’s account of the April 2025 flag-off also identifies a School-Based Management Committee School Improvement Programme. It describes intended interventions in classroom renovation, furniture, water and sanitation, and perimeter security. [14] The programme and its stated scope are documented.

(16). *Demonstrating student loan implementation at institutional level*

NELFUND’s operation has confirmation from a recipient institution. In its notice of 22 May 2025, the University of Lagos stated that it had received three tranches of loans. It said eligible students in the first and second batches had been reimbursed after verification, while records for the third tranche were being reconciled. [20] This provides an institutional example of implementation. Student loans are principally a learner-support intervention; not lecturers’ remuneration.

In my assessment, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has made important decisions and taken identifiable implementation steps, while substantial work remains. Approval, release of funds, receipt by a beneficiary and an improvement in educational outcomes are different propositions. Each requires its own evidence. The record set out above informs my support for President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. It includes acknowledgement of a salary payment by ASUU, a renegotiated academic agreement, confirmations of implementation at named institutions, professional-development initiatives and a staff-support scheme. The references allow those factual foundations to be examined. My argument for continuity is that these decisions deserve sustained implementation and scrutiny. A further mandate should carry clear expectations: regular payment, resolution of verified outstanding obligations, completion of lawful recruitment processes, transparent management of education funds and continuing engagement with staff unions. That is an affirmative case for re-election with standards attached. I support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election because I consider the documented measures a worthwhile foundation on which to build. The responsibility of a second term would be to turn more of those commitments into dependable conditions in the institutions where Nigerians teach and learn.

Blessing Wingidinipre Fredrick is a lawyer amd wrote from Abuja. Can be reached on blessingwingidiniprefredrick@gmail.com.

*End Notes*

1. PUNCH. (UPDATED) FG raises salaries for federal tertiary institutions’ lecturers to 25%. 22 September 2023. https://punchng.com/fg-raises-salaries-for-junior-lecturers-to-25-retains-35-for-professors-others/

2. National Universities Commission. FG Offer Profs. 35% Pay Rise, Other Varsity Workers 23.5%. 20 September 2022. https://www.nuc.edu.ng/fg-offer-profs-35-pay-rise-other-varsity-workers-23-5/

3. State House. President Tinubu Approves Partial Waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order on ASUU Members…. 20 October 2023. https://statehouse.gov.ng/president-tinubu-approves-partial-waiver-of-the-no-work-no-pay-order-on-asuu-members-orders-release-of-four-months-of-withheld-salary/

4. PUNCH. ASUU threatens nationwide strike over unpaid salaries, agreement. 11 September 2026. https://punchng.com/asuu-threatens-nationwide-strike-over-unpaid-salaries-agreement/

5. Federal Ministry of Education release published by FMInfo. Promise Kept, Hope Refreshed: FG Releases ₦50 Billion To Varsity Unions As Tinubu Reaffirms Education Priority. 23 April 2025. https://fmino.gov.ng/promise-kept-hope-refreshed-fg-releases-%E2%82%A650-billion-to-varsity-unions-as-tinubu-reaffirms-education-priority/

6. Federal Ministry of Education release published by FMInfo. FG Deepens Dialogue With ASUU: Clears Backlog, Strengthens Academic Staff Welfare…. 29 October 2025. https://fmino.gov.ng/fg-deepens-dialogue-with-asuu-clears-backlog-strengthens-academic-staff-welfare-and-releases-funds-to-clear-salary-and-promotion-arrears-in-all-federal-universities/

7. Federal Ministry of Education release published by FMInfo. FG, ASUU Seal Landmark 2025 Agreement, Heralding Enduring Stability And Renewed Hope For Nigerian Universities. 14 January 2026. https://fmino.gov.ng/fg-asuu-seal-landmark-2025-agreement-heralding-enduring-stability-and-renewed-hope-for-nigerian-universities/.

8. PUNCH. ASUU: Tinubu’s 40% pay rise stalls as varsities delay implementation. 30 August 2026. https://punchng.com/asuu-tinubus-40-pay-rise-stalls-as-varsities-delay-implementation/

9. PUNCH. JUST IN: FG exempts universities, polytechnics, others from IPPIS. 13 December 2023. https://punchng.com/just-in-fg-exempts-universities-polytechnics-others-from-ippis/

10. Bank of Industry. iProgrammes – BOI Intervention Funds. Undated programme page. https://iprogrammes.boi.ng/

11. Federal Ministry of Education release published by FMInfo. Promises Kept, Hope Restored, Trust Built: FG Unveils Tertiary Education Agreements, Commences Allowance Payments. 13 October 2026. https://fmino.gov.ng/promises-kept-hope-restored-trust-built-fg-unveils-tertiary-education-agreements-commences-allowance-payments/

12. Channels Television. FG Bows To Pressure, Releases Eight Months’ Salaries To SSANU Members. 7 October 2026. https://www.channelstv.com/2026/10/07/fg-bows-to-pressure-releases-eight-months-salaries-to-ssanu-members/

13. PUNCH. Tinubu approves regularisation of 3,252 PTA teachers. 7 August 2026. https://punchng.com/tinubu-approves-regularisation-of-3252-pta-teachers/

14. Universal Basic Education Commission. UBEC and Federal Ministry of Education Launch Landmark School Improvement and Teacher Development Programmes Nationwide. April 2025. https://ubec.gov.ng/ubec-and-federal-ministry-of-education-launch-landmark-school-improvement-and-teacher-development-programmes-nationwide/

15. PUNCH. FG rolls out education reform initiatives. 28 January 2026. https://punchng.com/fg-rolls-out-education-reform-initiatives/

16. Federal Ministry of Education. FG Deepens Teacher Reforms, NUT Pledges Stronger Partnership For Professional Transformation. 5 October 2026; updated 20 October 2026. https://education.gov.ng/fg-deepens-teacher-reforms-nut-pledges-stronger-partnership-for-professional-transformation/

17. Tertiary Education Trust Fund. TETFund Announces Allocation of N2.5 billion to Each University in 2026 Intervention…. Undated page concerning the 2026 intervention. https://tetfund.gov.ng/news/details/48

18. State House. President Tinubu Commissions TETFund-Funded Education Projects Across Nigeria. 30 May 2026; statement dated 29 May. https://statehouse.gov.ng/president-tinubu-commissions-tetfund-funded-education-projects-across-nigeria/

19. Ekiti State University. EKSU Records Major Research Milestone as Two Professors Secure ₦72.4 Million TETFund National Research Grants. 20 June 2026. https://eksu.edu.ng/eksu-records-major-research-milestone-as-two-professors-secure-%E2%82%A672-4-million-tetfund-national-research-grants/

20. University of Lagos. What You Need to Know About NELFUND Reimbursements in UNILAG. 22 May 2025. https://unilag.edu.ng/what-you-need-to-know-about-nelfund-reimbursements-in-unilag/