Alausa Tasks VCs on Payment of CATA, CONTA, CONMESS

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has urged vice chancellors of federal universities to ensure eligible workers receive their entitlements under the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTA) and Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

Alausa gave the directive at a meeting with vice chancellors, reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to workers’ welfare, accountability in personnel funding and respect for university autonomy.

He urged university managements to resolve outstanding payment issues and ensure that eligible staff receive their dues without avoidable delays.

The minister said the Federal Government had engaged relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Finance, to address funding challenges and facilitate the settlement of arrears.

He explained that some universities made payments in January but later encountered financial constraints as their available reserves declined.

Government intervention subsequently helped resolve outstanding funding issues, with arrears reportedly paid up to September, he said.

However, Alausa expressed concern that some universities continued to delay payments to eligible workers despite the measures taken to address the funding challenges.

He urged vice chancellors to work with the relevant authorities to identify unresolved cases and ensure that affected employees receive their entitlements.

The minister explained that the government based monthly personnel allocations on approved wage bills. Changes in staff strength arising from retirements, attrition and other circumstances, he added, could affect actual personnel expenditure.

He stressed that university managements must apply personnel funds to their approved purposes and demonstrate prudence, transparency and accountability in handling public resources.

“It is not right. It is not acceptable,” Alausa said, condemning avoidable delays in the payment of workers’ legitimate entitlements.

He said the Ministry of Education would continue to engage university authorities to resolve outstanding payment issues and promote compliance with applicable laws and financial regulations.

On university autonomy, the minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to allowing universities to manage their internal affairs within the framework of existing laws.

He, however, urged vice chancellors to uphold transparency and integrity in appointments, recruitment and other administrative processes.

Alausa said autonomy must come with responsible leadership and a commitment to improving teaching and learning, strengthening institutional administration and expanding educational opportunities for Nigerian students.

He also called on vice chancellors to sustain constructive engagement with the Federal Government, prioritise staff welfare and promote industrial harmony to prevent avoidable disruptions to academic activities.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with stakeholders to strengthen higher education, with emphasis on workers’ welfare, institutional accountability, university autonomy and quality education.