The Federal Government on Wednesday said it has released the sum of N2.3bn to clear salary and promotion arrears of university lecturers.
The government also reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s tertiary education sector through decisive fiscal interventions, policy reforms, and sustained dialogue with the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other university-based unions.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while providing updates on ongoing engagements with ASUU and other tertiary institution unions. He stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains resolute in his determination to resolve all lingering welfare and funding issues in a transparent, fair, and sustainable manner, according to a statement by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo.
Alausa announced that the Federal Government has released ₦2.3 billion to universities across the country, representing Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears. 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.
According to him, “A total of ₦2.311 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.”
He further disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance and the OAGF, is finalising the release of third-party non-statutory deductions and pension remittances, which he said is expected to be completed in the coming days.
Alausa added that the government has approved the full mainstreaming of the Earned Academic Allowance into university staff salaries beginning from 2026, noting that this will ensure prompt, predictable, and sustainable payments going forward. In addition, funds have been released under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities, with corresponding budgetary provisions made to sustain the initiative.
