FG Releases Five-Month Academic Tools Allowance Arrears for Federal University Lecturers

The Federal Government has approved and released funds for the payment of five months’ accumulated Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to eligible academic staff in federal universities nationwide, in a move aimed at fulfilling key provisions of its 2025 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The approval was communicated in a circular dated June 4, 2026, and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directing vice-chancellors of federal universities to immediately clear all outstanding CATA payments owed to lecturers and other eligible academic staff.

According to the minister, the release of the funds demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to the implementation of the Federal Government-ASUU 2025 Agreement signed on January 14, 2026.

“I write to inform you that the Federal Government has released funds for the payment of five months Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) 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,” Alausa stated.

The Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance is a fixed entitlement designed to support lecturers in carrying out teaching, research, and professional development activities. It covers expenses such as journal publications, conference participation, internet subscriptions, membership of professional associations, and the acquisition of academic materials and books.

The allowance was reviewed under the 2025 agreement and forms part of the Federal Government’s 40 per cent upward review of university lecturers’ remuneration package.

The minister also instructed universities that had advanced funds from their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) or other institutional sources to pay the allowance from January 2026 to refund the money to the appropriate university accounts upon receiving the federal allocation.

“In addition, where the university had advanced funds from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) or any other institutional source for the payment of the allowance from January 2026, 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 circular stated.

Alausa further directed university authorities to ensure strict compliance with financial regulations and maintain proper documentation of all payments and reimbursements made under the arrangement.

The release comes amid growing concerns by ASUU over delays in implementing other aspects of the 2025 agreement, particularly the payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, recently disclosed that unpaid EAA had accumulated to 18 months as of May 2026, warning that continued delays could provoke industrial action by the union.

Unlike CATA, which is paid as a standing allowance, Earned Academic Allowance is a duty-based payment granted to lecturers for additional responsibilities beyond regular classroom teaching. These include postgraduate supervision, fieldwork coordination, industrial training supervision, external moderation, and other approved academic assignments.

While the release of the CATA arrears is expected to ease tensions within the university system, ASUU has continued to insist on the full implementation of all components of the 2025 agreement.

The latest intervention follows the Federal Government’s release of N2.3 billion to university-based unions in October 2025 as part of efforts to clear outstanding allowance arrears and improve industrial relations in the nation’s tertiary education sector.