FG Pays Eight Months’ Allowance Arrears to Varsity Workers

The Federal Government has released eight months’ arrears of the Consolidated Non-Academic Staff Tertiary Institutions Allowance, CONTA, to workers in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

The allowance covers the period from January to August 2026 and was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday.

The payment came less than 48 hours after the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over outstanding payments arising from the 2026 FGN/SSANU agreement.

SSANU had warned that failure to address its demands could lead to a total and indefinite strike, raising concerns about possible disruptions to academic activities across federal universities.

Alausa said the release of the CONTA arrears demonstrated the government’s commitment to workers’ welfare and recognised the important role played by non-academic personnel in keeping tertiary institutions functional.

He said the payment was also part of broader efforts to address legitimate welfare concerns, promote industrial harmony and minimise disruptions within the tertiary education system.

The minister assured workers and other stakeholders that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue engaging unions, heads of institutions and other relevant partners to resolve outstanding issues.

He also appealed to academic and non-academic staff, institutional authorities and unions to continue cooperating with the government as it implements reforms in the education sector.

SSANU President, Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, welcomed the release, describing the intervention as a demonstration of responsiveness and commitment to workers’ welfare.

The union had also demanded payment of other outstanding entitlements, including two months’ salaries withheld during the 2022 industrial action and arrears arising from 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increases.

The latest payment follows the Federal Government’s commencement of the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tertiary Institutions Allowance, CATA, to academic staff, covering the same January-to-August 2026 period.

The twin payments are expected to ease tensions within federal tertiary institutions and support the stability of the academic calendar.