𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗯𝘂 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 40% 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗧𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻.

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

7𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 2026.

The administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 40 per cent increase in the salaries of university lecturers as part of measures to address the growing brain drain in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, popularly referred to as the “Japa syndrome,” Senator Neda Imasuen has disclosed.

Imasuen, who represents Edo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, said the Federal Government recently renegotiated its agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), approving the salary adjustment for academic staff effective January 1, 2026.

He explained that the move is aimed at improving lecturers’ welfare and discouraging the migration of Nigerian academics to other countries in search of better opportunities.

According to the lawmaker, the revised agreement also strengthens the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, enabling lecturers to access improved funding for research, academic publications, conferences and professional development.

Imasuen disclosed this while delivering a lecture titled “The Role of the Nigerian Senate in the Development of Higher Education in Nigeria” at the 5th Matriculation Ceremony and the groundbreaking ceremony for the College of Medicine Administrative Building and Department of Anatomy Laboratory at Mudiame University in Irrua, Edo State.

He added that the Federal Government had also released ₦2.3 billion to federal universities to clear outstanding staff arrears in a bid to restore confidence and financial stability within the university system.

The senator further noted that under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, broader institutional reforms have been prioritised, including increased investment in infrastructure and research funding through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

He said the intervention agency has been refocused on promoting academic excellence, high-impact research and capacity expansion across tertiary institutions nationwide.

To strengthen global academic collaboration, Imasuen disclosed that the Federal Government has also launched the BRIDGE Diaspora Platform, designed to connect Nigerian academics in the diaspora with local universities for knowledge transfer and research partnerships, rather than permanent migration.

He added that workforce development initiatives, particularly in critical sectors such as medicine, are being expanded to strengthen domestic training capacity.

Speaking on the constitutional role of the Senate, Imasuen explained that the upper chamber is responsible for lawmaking, oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and authorisation of national budgets and public expenditures.

According to him, the Senate has contributed to the development of higher education through legislation guiding regulatory bodies such as the National Universities Commission and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, while also determining funding for education through the national appropriation process.

He noted that the Senate also conducts oversight to ensure accountability within institutions and confirms key presidential appointments that affect the governance of tertiary institutions.

The lawmaker highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening research and innovation ecosystems, promoting university–industry collaboration and advancing digital transformation in higher education through technology-enabled learning models.

He also pointed to legislative initiatives expanding access to educational financing, including student loan schemes administered through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

Despite the reforms, Imasuen acknowledged that Nigeria’s higher education system still faces major structural challenges, including inadequate funding, rapid population growth, limited admission capacity and the continued migration of skilled academic personnel.

“These challenges are interconnected and systemic. Only through deliberate policy coherence, adequate resource allocation and institutional accountability can Nigeria reposition its higher education system to meet both national development goals and global standards,” he said.

Imasuen also commended Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo for aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda by strengthening Ambrose Alli University to enhance academic excellence in the state.

Representing the governor at the event, the Edo State Secretary to the Government, Barr. Musa Ikhilor, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting educational institutions.

He disclosed that the state government is finalising a partnership with Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital to serve as a training facility for medical students of Mudiame University pending the completion of the institution’s teaching hospital.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Mudiame University, Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, commended the governor’s commitment to educational advancement and described his leadership as transformative for institutions in the state.

Aluyor also urged the matriculating students to remain focused on their academic pursuits and avoid activities capable of undermining their future.

The Chancellor of the university, Prof. Sunny Eromosele, encouraged the students to take pride in their decision to study at the institution, noting that the university employs inclusive teaching methodologies and maintains international academic collaborations, including partnerships with universities in Sweden.

The event featured the groundbreaking ceremony for the College of Medicine building and was attended by several dignitaries, including the Chief Medical Director of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Prof. Reuben Agbons Eifediyi, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the education sector.