FG Releases Funds for Lecturers’ Eight-Month Allowance
ABUJA — The Federal Government has released funds to pay eight months of accumulated Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) owed to eligible academic staff in federal tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an interview with journalists in Abuja, saying the payment covered the period from January to August 2026.
Alausa said the release of the funds was part of the Federal Government’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations to academic staff and improving the welfare of workers in the tertiary education sector.
He explained that universities, polytechnics and colleges of education had been notified to commence payment of the allowance to eligible academic staff.
“I am happy to announce that the CATA payment has now been settled by the Federal Government from January to August 2026 to all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education,” the minister said.
CATA is an allowance designed to provide lecturers with resources required for teaching, research and professional development.
The allowance covers expenses including academic publications, conference participation, internet services, professional memberships and the purchase of academic books.
The allowance was reviewed as part of the Federal Government’s 2025 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), signed on January 14, 2026.
The revised allowance forms part of a new remuneration package for university lecturers and is included in the 40 per cent increase in their overall emoluments.
The development comes after ASUU raised concerns over outstanding aspects of the renegotiated agreement, including the implementation of the CATA payment.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima has described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as an important social intervention of the Tinubu administration.
Shettima said the education loan scheme was helping students from less privileged backgrounds access and remain in tertiary institutions by reducing financial barriers.
The Vice President made the remarks in Abuja when he received the management team of the University of Abuja, led by its Vice Chancellor, Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi.
He said NELFUND’s provision of tuition payments and monthly upkeep allowances had given students from poor and vulnerable families greater opportunities to pursue university education.
Shettima described the initiative as not only an education financing scheme but also a tool for poverty reduction and human capital development.
