ABUJA — September 9, 2026

The Federal Government has released funds for the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for the period covering January to August 2026.

Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday shortly after inaugurating the Ministerial Committee on Strengthening Accreditation and Quality Assurance Systems for Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.

CATA is a financial allowance designed to support academic staff in purchasing essential tools and materials required for teaching, research and other academic activities.

Alausa: Institutions Should Begin Payments

Alausa said the payment was made in line with the provisions of the 2025 Federal Government–Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN-ASUU) agreement, reaffirming the government’s commitment to implementing the agreement.

He said all affected institutions had been notified to commence payment to eligible academic staff.

“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.

He added that the government was also working towards releasing funds for the payment of the allowance to non-academic staff.

“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.

FG Highlights Staff Welfare Commitment

The minister described the payment as another demonstration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare of academic and non-academic staff in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

Alausa said the government recognised staff welfare as an important component of efforts to improve the quality of education.

“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.

Education Reforms Go Beyond Staff Welfare

Alausa said the administration’s education reforms extend beyond staff welfare, noting that investments were also being made in infrastructure across tertiary institutions, as well as in basic and postgraduate education.

He said the government was committed to ensuring that Nigerian children have access to quality education capable of competing with global standards.

“This is a President that believes so much in education. He has delivered beyond his promises to ensure that every single child in this country gets the highest quality of education comparable to anywhere in the world,” Alausa said.

Payment Follows Earlier CATA Disbursement

The latest announcement follows an earlier Federal Government release of funds for five months of accumulated CATA owed to eligible university lecturers.

In June, the government announced the release of funds for the payment, with Alausa stating in a circular dated June 4 that the measure was part of efforts to implement the renegotiated agreements with ASUU.

The development came amid complaints from ASUU over what the union described as the government’s “haphazard” implementation of the renegotiated agreement on earned academic allowances.

ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, had said in May that unpaid earned academic allowances had accumulated to 18 months.

The union had also warned of possible industrial action if the Federal Government failed to fully implement the agreements reached with the union.