The Federal Government has released funds to clear the backlog of salary and promotion arrears in all federal universities.
AIT.live sent a message to President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Professor Chris Piwuna to confirm the development but he was yet to respond at the time of filing this report.
A statement by the Federal Ministry of Education says the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, confirmed the releases to federal universities while providing updates on ongoing engagements with ASUU and other tertiary institution unions.
According to the statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Boriowo Folasade, the Minister stated that President Bola Tinubu remains resolute in his determination to resolve all lingering welfare and funding issues in a transparent, fair, and sustainable manner.
The statement confirmed that the Federal Government has released N2.3 billion, representing Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears to universities across the country. Noting that 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.
He urged benefiting institutions to begin to receive payment alerts anytime from now, while revealing that the government is also finalising the release of third-party non-statutory deductions and pension remittances to NUPEMCO, expected to be completed in the coming days.
Alausa added that the government has approved the full mainstreaming of the Earned Academic Allowance, EAA, into university staff salaries beginning from 2026, noting that this will ensure prompt, predictable, and sustainable payments going forward.
The minister has also confirmed that, In addition, funds have been released under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities, with corresponding budgetary provisions made to sustain the initiative.
On the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, the Minister 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.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
