FG Pays Academic, Non-Teaching Allowances To Tertiary Institution Staff

The Federal Government has paid new allowances to eligible academic and non-teaching staff in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide, as part of efforts to improve staff welfare and prevent industrial disputes.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the payments on Tuesday in Abuja during the unveiling of the 2026 agreements between the government and academic and non-academic staff unions in tertiary institutions.

The allowances, known as the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTA), took effect from January 2026. They aim to support the professional and operational needs of eligible staff across the institutions.

Alausa described the unveiling as a major step towards improving working conditions, rebuilding trust with staff unions and ensuring stability in the tertiary education system.

He attributed the development to President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing longstanding disputes between the government and education sector unions.

“For decades, agreements between government and staff unions were followed by delays, incomplete or unfulfilled commitments,” the minister said.

He explained that repeated failures to implement agreements had weakened trust and triggered disputes, often resulting in prolonged strikes that disrupted academic calendars.

According to him, the consequences extended beyond campuses, as students lost valuable learning time while families incurred additional costs. The disruptions also affected teaching and research activities.

Alausa recalled Tinubu’s promise that students should complete four-year academic programmes within four years. He expressed confidence that effective implementation of the new agreements would help the government achieve that goal.

The minister assured the unions that the government would meet its obligations under the agreements, while promising stronger oversight to prevent delays and disagreements over implementation.

He disclosed that the government planned to expand the existing implementation and monitoring committee established for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The expanded committee would oversee agreements involving all academic and non-teaching staff unions across tertiary institutions, rather than focus on ASUU alone.

“Government has decided to expand the existing implementation and monitoring committee established for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) into a single committee responsible for monitoring all agreements with academic and non-academic staff unions across tertiary institutions,” Alausa said.

He added that the committee would include broader representation from unions and relevant stakeholders. The government would also consider making it a permanent body to strengthen oversight and resolve implementation problems promptly.

Alausa urged government agencies, governing councils and institutional managements to follow the implementation guidelines, keep accurate records and cooperate with the monitoring committee.

He also appealed to union leaders to use established channels to resolve grievances instead of resorting to public confrontations or strikes.

However, President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Mohammed Ibrahim, urged the government to go beyond the payment of the allowances and implement every component of the agreements.

His position highlights the need for sustained compliance with the commitments, as staff unions seek assurances that the latest agreements will translate into lasting improvements in working conditions.