The Federal Government on Wednesday announced the release of ₦2.3 billion for the payment of salary and promotion arrears owed to university lecturers across the country.
The disclosure was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalising the nation’s tertiary education system through fiscal interventions, policy reforms, and sustained dialogue with academic unions.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, the minister said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained determined to resolve all outstanding welfare and funding issues in a fair and transparent manner.
“A total of ₦2.311 billion, representing Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears, has been released through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to universities nationwide,” Alausa said.
“Benefiting institutions should begin to receive payment alerts anytime from now.”
The minister added that the Federal Government, working with the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant-General’s Office, was finalising the release of pending third-party deductions and pension remittances, which are expected to be completed in the coming days.
He also announced that the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) would be fully integrated into university salary structures beginning from 2026, ensuring predictable and timely payments.
Alausa noted that additional funds had been released under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities (NANU) programme, with fresh budgetary provisions made to sustain the initiative.
“While the government remains committed to improving staff welfare, it will only enter into agreements that are realistic and financially sustainable,” the minister said.
He further explained that the Yayale Ahmed Committee continues to serve as a bridge between the Federal Government and the tertiary institution unions, facilitating “honest and mutually respectful negotiations.”
However, some university lecturers told Punch that, as of Wednesday night, their October 2025 salaries had not been paid despite the ministry’s announcement.
A lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said,
“I can confirm that October salaries have not been paid. We’re surprised at the ministry’s statement.”
Similarly, an academic at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, expressed frustration over what he described as “a growing trend” of salary delays.
“The government now feels comfortable delaying our salaries without explanation,” he said.
Efforts to reach ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, were unsuccessful, but a branch chairman of the union in northern Nigeria confirmed that no payments had been received.
“We have not received a dime, not even our regular salaries,” he said.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been in a prolonged standoff with the Federal Government over issues including withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement.
The union, representing thousands of university lecturers, argues that poor government funding has crippled public universities, triggered frequent strikes, and eroded academic standards.
Earlier this month, ASUU suspended a two-week warning strike following interventions from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Assembly.
The union’s key demands include the payment of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, implementation of 25–35% salary arrears, release of cooperative deductions, and full execution of the Yayale Ahmed Committee’s recommendations, which have been pending since the report’s submission in December 2024.
“Our priority remains the revitalisation of Nigeria’s public universities,” the union leader said. “Until the government takes concrete action, these disputes will continue.”
