FG Pays University, Polytechnic Lecturers’ Tools Allowance

The Federal Government has released the full Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for the period January to August 2026.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday while inaugurating the Ministerial Committee on Accreditation.

Alausa said the payment was made in accordance with the provisions of the 2025 Federal Government–Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) agreement, reaffirming the government’s commitment to implementing the agreement.

According to the minister, the funds had been released to the affected institutions, with notifications sent to enable them to begin paying eligible academic staff.

“The Office of the Minister of Education is happy to announce that the full CATA payment has now been released by the Federal Government from January to August 2026 to all universities, all polytechnics and colleges of education,” Alausa said.

He added that the institutions should have received the necessary notification to commence payment to academic staff.

The Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance is designed to support lecturers and other eligible academic staff in obtaining essential tools and materials required for teaching, research and other academic responsibilities.

The allowance covers areas including academic publications, conference participation, internet access, membership of learned societies and the purchase of academic books.

The latest payment follows an earlier release in June when the Federal Government cleared five months of accumulated CATA arrears for eligible academic staff in federal universities.

The allowance forms part of the revised remuneration package negotiated under the Federal Government’s agreement with ASUU.

Alausa also disclosed that payment of the corresponding allowance to non-academic staff was being processed, with the funds expected to become available in the coming weeks.

The minister said the latest release reflects the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of workers in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions and implementing agreed measures aimed at strengthening the academic environment.

The development is expected to provide relief to academic staff who had been awaiting payment of the allowance and support their teaching, research and professional development activities.