FG Releases Eight-Month CATA Allowance to Lecturers Across Federal Tertiary Institutions

FG Releases Eight-Month CATA Allowance to Lecturers Across Federal Tertiary Institutions

Minister announces full payment covering January to August 2026 for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education

The Federal Government has announced the full payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for the period of January to August 2026. The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday shortly after inaugurating the Ministerial Committee on Accreditation in Abuja. The announcement brings relief to thousands of lecturers who have been awaiting the release of the eight-month allowance under the 2025 Federal Government–Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN/ASUU) agreement.

CATA is a financial allowance provided to academic staff to support the purchase of essential tools and materials required for teaching, research and other academic activities. The allowance covers expenses such as journal publications, conference participation, internet services, membership of professional and learned societies, as well as the purchase of academic books. It forms a major component of the revised remuneration package for university lecturers under the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement, signed on January 14, 2026, and constitutes part of the 40 per cent increase in their overall emoluments.

Speaking on the development, Alausa said the payment was made in accordance with the provisions of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement, reaffirming the government’s commitment to its implementation. “The Office of the Minister of Education is happy to announce that the full CATA payment has now been released by the Federal Government from January to August 2026 to all universities, all polytechnics and colleges of education,” Alausa said. “All these institutions should have received notification to start paying CATA to all academic staff.” The minister added that payment to non-academic staff was also being processed and expressed optimism that the funds would be made available in the coming weeks. “And also, the payment to non-academic staff, we’re hoping that these funds will be made available, hopefully, in the next few weeks,” he said.

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According to Alausa, the release of the allowance was another indication of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare of both academic and non-academic staff in the nation’s tertiary institutions. “This is another indication of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to our academic and non-academic staff. President Bola Tinubu made a commitment to ensuring that the quality and welfare of our staff are prioritised. He has prioritised the welfare of our staff,” he said. The minister said the administration’s education reforms extended beyond staff welfare, noting that significant investments were also being made in infrastructure across tertiary institutions, as well as in basic and postgraduate education. “Beyond prioritising the welfare of our staff, he has also significantly invested in infrastructure at all our tertiary institutions and also basic and postgraduate education,” Alausa said. He added that the administration was committed to ensuring that Nigerian children receive quality education that can compete with standards anywhere in the world.

The latest announcement follows an earlier release covering five months of accumulated CATA payments announced by the government in June. In a June 4 circular addressed to vice-chancellors of federal universities, Alausa said the payment was part of efforts to implement the renegotiated agreements reached with ASUU. The CATA payment is separate from other components of lecturers’ remuneration, such as the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and Professorial Allowance.

The development comes against the backdrop of concerns recently raised by ASUU over the implementation of the allowance. At its recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in June, the union reviewed the implementation of the FGN-ASUU agreement and raised concerns over outstanding aspects of the new remuneration package, including CATA. ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, also called for clarity on the eligibility criteria for the payment of the allowance, particularly the phrase “eligible academic staff,” warning that ambiguity could lead to different interpretations by university authorities. The union stressed that CATA should be implemented in accordance with the agreement reached with the Nigerian Government and should not be confused with other components of lecturers’ remuneration.

Meanwhile, the announcement of the CATA payment has coincided with a dispute at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), where the institution’s chapter of ASUU declared an indefinite strike over alleged underpayment of August salaries. The union, in a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Professor Enaruna Edosa, and Secretary, Dr. Lucky Aimiyekagbon, directed its members to withdraw their services over what it described as the payment of half salaries to academic staff. However, the University Management denied claims that academic staff received half salaries in August 2026, explaining that the issue stemmed from a misunderstanding involving a particular allowance. In a statement signed by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, the Management said the confusion had been resolved. “The Management declared that the Federal Government has paid the salaries of all categories of staff up to August, 2026,” the statement said. “The Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), which was confused for salary, has now been released by the federal government and promptly disbursed to staff who are entitled to the allowance.” The Management assured staff that all legitimate entitlements would be paid without hindrance and urged stakeholders to avoid undue sensationalisation of issues to sustain the prevailing industrial harmony in the University.

Despite the latest payment, unresolved financial disputes continue to strain relations between academic unions and the government. ASUU and the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) have insisted on the payment of withheld salaries. Outstanding issues listed by the unions include the 25 and 35 per cent wage award arrears, promotion allowance arrears, and three and a half months’ salaries withheld during the 2022 strike by ASUU.

FG Releases Eight-Month CATA Allowance to Lecturers Across Federal Tertiary Institutions