The Federal government has released funds to clear the eight-month backlog of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) owed to eligible academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.
The payment covers the period from January to August 2026, in what the Federal Government described as a further demonstration of its commitment to implementing approved agreements and improving the welfare of personnel in the education sector.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed the development on Wednesday after inaugurating the Ministerial Committee on Accreditation.
A statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, said the funds had been released for the payment of eligible academic staff across federal tertiary institutions.
According to the statement, all federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education have been notified to commence payment to qualified academic personnel.
Alausa said the disbursement was being implemented in line with the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria–Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN-ASUU) Agreement, underscoring the government’s position that commitments reached with stakeholders in the education sector must be implemented.
The minister described the release as evidence of the Federal government’s commitment to implementing approved agreements while prioritising the welfare of education personnel.
While announcing the release for academic staff, Alausa also disclosed that the government was making arrangements for the payment of the corresponding allowance to non-academic staff in federal tertiary institutions. He said funding for the non-academic staff allowance was expected to be made available within the coming weeks.
The minister linked the payment to President Tinubu’s broader commitment to improving the welfare of workers in the education sector.
Alausa reaffirmed the administration’s determination to improve staff welfare, infrastructure and the overall quality of education under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement provides the framework under which the current CATA payment is being implemented, according to the Education Ministry.