The Federal Government has released N2.3 billion, representing Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears, to universities across the country.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja while giving updates on ongoing engagements with ASUU and other tertiary institution unions.
“The disbursements, processed through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, reflect the Tinubu Administration’s resolve to clear inherited backlogs and enhance the welfare of academic and non-academic staff in the tertiary education sector.
“A total of N2.311 billion, representing Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears, has been released through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to universities. Benefiting institutions should begin to receive payment alerts anytime from now.
“Government had approved the full mainstreaming of the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) into university staff salaries beginning from 2026- this would ensure prompt, predictable, and sustainable payments going forward,” Dr. Alausa said.
He said In addition, funds had been released under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities, with corresponding budgetary provisions made to sustain the initiative.
The Minister of Education reaffirmed that these measures demonstrate the government’s strong commitment to improving academic staff welfare and addressing long-standing challenges that have persisted for decades.
“Within the last twenty-six months, the Federal Government had paid a significant portion of outstanding obligations.
“The Federal Ministry of Education assures that these engagements are being conducted truthfully and in good faith. However, while the government remains committed to improving staff welfare, it will only enter into agreements that are realistic and financially sustainable,” Dr. Alausa stated.
The minister maintained that open communication with all academic and non-academic unions of tertiary institutions will continue.
He explained that the Yayale Ahmed Negotiating Committee continues to serve as a bridge between the Federal Government and the tertiary institutions’ unions, ensuring that all pending welfare-related issues are addressed through honest and mutually respectful dialogue.
Dr. Alausa, however, reiterated that the Federal Government would not engage in unsustainable fiscal practices.
“Our priority is to ensure that all matters are addressed responsibly and in the best interest of our education system,” he said, stressing that all commitments must align with approved budgetary provisions to guarantee long-term stability. He said
The minister expressed optimism that the current wave of reforms and fiscal interventions would usher in lasting industrial harmony, restore confidence in Nigeria’s tertiary education system, and strengthen institutional capacity for national development.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
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