By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Vice chancellors of federal universities have been directed to ensure timely payment of eligible staff entitlements under the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTA) and Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, gave the directive during a meeting with vice chancellors, where he reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to workers’ welfare, university autonomy and accountability in the management of public funds.
According to Alausa, the Federal Government had engaged relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Finance, to address funding challenges and facilitate the payment of outstanding arrears owed to eligible university staff.
He explained that although some universities made payments in January, several institutions subsequently encountered financial constraints as their available reserves declined, prompting government intervention to address outstanding funding issues.
The minister stressed that the arrears had reportedly been paid up to September, expressing concern that some eligible university employees were still experiencing delays in receiving their entitlements.
He urged vice chancellors to work with the relevant authorities to resolve outstanding cases and ensure that affected workers received their allowances without further delays.
Alausa explained that personnel allocations were based on approved wage bills and disbursed monthly, while changes in staff strength arising from retirements, attrition and other circumstances could affect actual personnel expenditure.
“University managements have a responsibility, which is to ensure prudent financial management, transparency and accountability,” the minister said in a statement emailed to PerSecondNews on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.
He emphasised that funds allocated for personnel costs must be used for their approved purposes.
“It is not right. It is not acceptable,” the minister declared, condemning continued delays in payments to eligible university staff despite measures taken by the government to address funding challenges.
“The Ministry of Education would continue engaging relevant university authorities to resolve outstanding payment issues and promote accountability in the management of public funds in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” he noted.
On university autonomy, Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to allowing universities to manage their internal affairs within the framework of applicable laws and regulations.
He charged vice chancellors to uphold transparency, integrity and accountability in institutional appointments, recruitment and administration, adding that autonomy must be accompanied by responsible leadership.
The minister also emphasised the need for university managements to improve teaching and learning, strengthen institutional administration and expand educational opportunities for Nigerian students.
He called on vice chancellors to sustain constructive engagement with the Federal Government and prioritise staff welfare and industrial harmony to minimise avoidable disruptions to academic activities.
Alausa reaffirmed that the Federal Government would continue engaging stakeholders and pursuing measures to strengthen Nigeria’s higher education system, with emphasis on workers’ welfare, institutional accountability, university autonomy and quality education.
PerSecondNews recalls that the Federal Government, had on October 14, 2026, announced the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTA) to eligible personnel in tertiary institutions.
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