The Federal Government has released funds for the payment of five months of accumulated Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) owed to lecturers in federal universities and has directed vice-chancellors to immediately clear all outstanding payments.
In a directive issued by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, vice-chancellors were instructed to ensure the prompt disbursement of the funds to eligible academic staff, in line with agreements reached between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
A letter obtained by our correspondent showed that the payment forms part of the implementation of the 2025 agreement signed between the government and ASUU, aimed at addressing welfare concerns and maintaining stability in the nation’s tertiary education sector.
“The Federal Government has released funds for the payment of five (5) months Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance to eligible academic staff of federal universities, in accordance with the provisions of the signed FGN/ASUU 2025 Agreement, and in fulfilment of the FGN’s commitment to effective implementation of the Agreement,” the minister stated.
Dr Alausa directed university authorities to ensure that lecturers and other eligible academic staff receive all outstanding allowances without delay.
“Consequently, you are requested to ensure the immediate clearance of all outstanding CATA payments due to lecturers and other eligible academic staff in your university,” he said.
The minister also addressed institutions that may have advanced funds from their internally generated revenue or other sources to pay the allowance earlier in the year. He directed such universities to refund the expenditures to the appropriate accounts once the federal allocation is received.
“Where the university had advanced funds from its Internally Generated Revenue or any other institutional source for the payment of the allowance early this year, appropriate steps should be taken to refund such amounts to the relevant university accounts and budget heads upon receipt of the Federal Government allocation,” the letter added.
The ministry further instructed vice-chancellors to comply strictly with financial regulations and maintain accurate records of all payments and reimbursements.
“You are also requested to ensure strict compliance with extant financial regulations and maintain proper records of all payments and reimbursements effected under this arrangement,” the minister said.
Urging university administrators to act swiftly, Dr Alausa added: “Kindly accord this matter the highest priority and urgency.”
The development is expected to provide relief for thousands of lecturers across federal universities who have repeatedly raised concerns over delays in the payment of welfare-related entitlements.
The Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance is designed to support lecturers’ professional responsibilities, including research, academic publishing, internet access, teaching materials and other resources required for effective teaching and scholarship.
Payment of the allowance has remained a recurring issue in negotiations between the Federal Government and ASUU, alongside disputes over earned allowances, university revitalisation funding, salaries and conditions of service.
Successive disagreements over these issues have often resulted in nationwide strikes that disrupted academic activities and extended students’ time in universities.
Education stakeholders have consistently argued that honouring agreements and ensuring prompt payment of allowances are critical to improving staff morale, enhancing research output and sustaining industrial harmony in Nigeria’s public universities.
The latest release of funds is widely seen as part of the government’s efforts to maintain stability in the university system and avert disruptions to the academic calendar.
