The Federal Government has begun paying approved allowances to eligible academic and non-academic staff in tertiary institutions nationwide under new agreements covering their welfare and working conditions.
The Ministry of Education disclosed this in a press release signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, following the unveiling of the 2026 agreements with academic and non-academic staff unions.
According to the ministry, the payments take effect from January 1, 2026, in line with the agreed provisions and implementation guidelines.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the agreements reflect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on improving staff welfare, promoting industrial harmony and preventing disruptions to academic calendars.
New Allowances for Academic and Non-Academic Staff
The agreements provide for the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) for eligible members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).
They also introduce the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA) for eligible non-teaching personnel, subject to the agreed terms and implementation guidelines.
The ministry said the measures are intended to address staff welfare within tertiary institutions while promoting stability across the education sector.
FG Expands Monitoring of Agreements
To ensure compliance with the agreements, Alausa announced an expansion of the existing Implementation and Monitoring Committee to cover both academic and non-academic unions.
The expanded committee is expected to strengthen accountability and monitor the implementation of the agreed provisions.
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, called on all parties to meet their obligations and maintain cooperation in implementing the agreements.
The agreements also provide for a three-year review to assess progress, evaluate implementation and address emerging concerns.
Ministry Seeks Uninterrupted Academic Calendars
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to staff welfare and institutional stability, stressing the importance of creating an environment where students can complete their academic programmes without avoidable disruptions.
The agreements come amid ongoing efforts to improve relations between the government and education sector unions, with implementation and monitoring expected to play a key role in sustaining industrial harmony across tertiary institutions.
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