By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Federal Government has announced that it has released the sum of N2.3 billion to clear Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears of university lecturers.
The government also reiterated its commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s tertiary education sector through decisive fiscal interventions, policy reforms, and sustained dialogue with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university-based unions.
According to a statement by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday, October 29, while providing updates on ongoing engagements with ASUU and other tertiary institution unions.
Alausa said President Bola Tinubu is determined to resolve all lingering welfare and funding issues in a transparent, fair, and sustainable manner.
He noted that the disbursements, processed through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), reflect the Tinubu administration’s resolve to clear backlogs and enhance the welfare of academic and non-academic staff in the tertiary education sector.
The minister said: “A total of N2.311 billion, representing Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears, has been released through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to universities. Benefiting institutions should begin to receive payment alerts anytime from now.”
He further disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance and the OAGF, is finalising the release of third-party non-statutory deductions and pension remittances, which he said is expected to be completed in the coming days.
Alausa added that the government has approved the full mainstreaming of the Earned Academic Allowance into university staff salaries beginning from 2026, which will ensure prompt, predictable, and sustainable payments going forward.
He said the funds have been released under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities, with corresponding budgetary provisions made to sustain the initiative.
Alausa stated: “The Federal Ministry of Education assures that these engagements are being conducted truthfully and in good faith. However, while the government remains committed to improving staff welfare, it will only enter into agreements that are realistic and financially sustainable.”
He explained that the Yayale Ahmed Negotiating Committee continues to serve as a bridge between the Federal Government and the tertiary institutions’ unions, ensuring that all pending welfare-related issues are addressed through honest and mutually respectful dialogue.
He said, “Negotiations are being conducted sincerely, mutually, and respectfully. Our priority is to ensure that all matters are addressed responsibly and in the best interest of our education system.”
Recall that ASUU has been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over demands for payment of withheld salaries and promotion arrears amid frustration over stagnant wages since 2009.
Among the union’s demands are improvement in the work conditions of lecturers, the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, the release of withheld salaries, sustainable funding for the revitalisation of public universities, and an end to victimisation of lecturers.
Others are the payment of outstanding 25-35 percent salary arrears, payment of promotion arrears for over four years and release of withheld third-party deductions (cooperative contributions, union check-off dues).
The union, on Wednesday, October 22, called off a two-week warning strike following interventions by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Assembly.
