The Federal Government has released funds for the payment of five months’ outstanding Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) owed to lecturers in federal universities across the country.
The payment is part of the implementation of the 2025 agreement reached between the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which included a 40 percent upward review of lecturers’ remuneration.
In a circular issued to vice-chancellors of federal universities, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, confirmed that funds have been made available to settle CATA arrears accumulated since January 2026.
The minister directed university authorities to ensure the immediate payment of all outstanding allowances due to eligible academic staff.
According to the Federal Government, the move reflects its commitment to fully implementing agreements reached with ASUU and improving the welfare of university lecturers.
CATA is a fixed allowance provided to academic staff to support teaching and research activities. It covers expenses such as journal publications, conference attendance, internet access, professional memberships, and the purchase of academic materials.
The government also instructed universities that previously used internally generated revenue (IGR) or other institutional funds to pay the allowance to refund those amounts to the appropriate university accounts once federal allocations are received.
Vice-chancellors were further directed to maintain proper records of all payments and ensure strict compliance with financial regulations during the disbursement process.
The development comes amid concerns raised by ASUU over delays in implementing parts of its agreement with the government, including issues surrounding earned academic allowances.
The union had recently warned of growing frustration among its members and cautioned that unresolved issues could trigger fresh industrial disputes within the university system.
The latest release is expected to provide relief for lecturers who have been awaiting payment of the allowance for several months.
Source: Federal Ministry of Education.
