The Federal Government has released ₦2.3 billion to unions in federal universities to clear outstanding arrears owed to academic and non-academic staff. The payment, processed through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, is part of ongoing efforts by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to resolve long-standing welfare and funding challenges in the tertiary education sector.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the disbursement on Wednesday while briefing journalists in Abuja on the government’s engagements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university-based unions. He said the move reflected the President’s commitment to revitalising tertiary education through transparent and sustainable reforms.
“A total of ₦2.311 billion 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,” Alausa said.
The minister disclosed that the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant-General’s Office were finalising the release of third-party non-statutory deductions and pension remittances to NUPEMCO, which would be completed in the coming days.
He added that the government had concluded plans to fully integrate the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) into university workers’ salaries from 2026, to ensure timely and predictable payments.
Alausa also noted that funds had been released under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities Project, with budgetary provisions made to sustain the initiative.
“These actions demonstrate the Federal Government’s strong commitment to improving academic staff welfare and addressing long-standing issues that have persisted for decades,” Alausa stated.
He explained that within the last 26 months, the Federal Government had settled a significant portion of outstanding obligations while maintaining open communication with all tertiary institution unions.
The minister further assured that negotiations with ASUU and other unions were being conducted “truthfully and in good faith,” stressing that any future agreements would be realistic and financially sustainable.
He mentioned that the Yayale Ahmed Negotiating Committee continued to serve as a bridge between the Federal Government and the unions, ensuring that welfare issues were resolved through constructive dialogue.
“The government will not engage in unsustainable fiscal practices. Our priority is to ensure all matters are addressed responsibly and in the best interest of our education system. All commitments must align with approved budgetary provisions to guarantee long-term stability,” he said.
Alausa also commended President Tinubu for his “unwavering dedication to the education sector,” noting that several challenges that had lingered for decades were now being addressed decisively under his administration.
