This was contained in a letter dated June 4, 2026, signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and addressed to vice-chancellors of federal universities. The directive forms part of efforts to implement agreements reached between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
According to the minister, the disbursement was made in line with commitments contained in the 2025 agreement signed between the Federal Government and ASUU.
“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 letter stated.
Alausa instructed university managements to ensure that lecturers and other eligible academic staff receive their 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,” the minister directed.
The minister also provided guidance for institutions that may have already paid the allowance using internally generated revenue or other university funds pending the Federal Government’s intervention.
“Where the university had advanced funds from its Internally Generated Revenue 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 letter added.
He further directed university authorities to ensure accountability and proper documentation throughout the payment process.
“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,” he stated.
Emphasising the importance of the directive, the minister urged vice-chancellors to act promptly.
“Kindly accord this matter the highest priority and urgency,” the minister said.
The latest intervention is expected to ease concerns among lecturers across federal universities, many of whom have repeatedly raised issues over delayed welfare payments and other outstanding benefits.
The Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance is intended to support academic activities such as research, scholarly publications, internet services, teaching resources and other professional tools required for effective learning and research.
Over the years, the payment of the allowance has remained a key issue in negotiations between the Federal Government and ASUU, alongside demands relating to earned allowances, university revitalisation funding, salaries and conditions of service.
Several disagreements over these issues have previously resulted in nationwide industrial actions that disrupted academic programmes in public universities.
The release of the funds is being viewed as part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to maintain industrial peace in the university system, improve lecturers’ welfare and prevent disruptions to the academic calendar.