Kings Olajide
The Federal Government of Nigeria has disbursed ₦2.3 billion to university-based unions to clear outstanding arrears, reaffirming its commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s tertiary education sector through fiscal interventions, policy reforms, and sustained dialogue.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the development on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 while giving updates on the government’s ongoing engagements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary institution unions.
Alausa disclosed that the funds, processed through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), demonstrate President Bola Tinubu’s determination to resolve long-standing welfare and funding challenges in a fair, transparent, and sustainable way.
It could be recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on two-week warning strike two weeks ago, which was called off penultimate week, giving the government six weeks to resolve all outstanding arrears of their members or face an indefinite industrial action.
The minister said, “A total of ₦2.311 billion 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,” the minister stated.
He added that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the OAGF, was finalising the release of third-party non-statutory deductions and pension remittances to NUPEMCO, expected to be completed in the coming days.
Alausa further disclosed that the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) would be fully integrated into university staff salaries from 2026, ensuring prompt and predictable payments.
He also confirmed that funds had been released under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities project, with continued budgetary support to sustain the initiative.
“These steps reflect the Federal Government’s strong commitment to improving academic staff welfare and addressing challenges that have persisted for decades,” he said.
According to the minister, the government has cleared a significant portion of outstanding obligations in the past 26 months while maintaining open and constructive communication with all academic and non-academic unions.
He assured that all negotiations with ASUU and other unions were being conducted “truthfully and in good faith,” adding the government would only commit to agreements that were realistic and financially sustainable.
Alausa explained that the Yayale Ahmed Negotiating Committee continued to serve as a vital link between the government and university unions, ensuring all welfare-related matters were addressed through honest and respectful dialogue.
“Our priority is to resolve all issues responsibly and in the best interest of the education system.
“All commitments must align with approved budgetary provisions to guarantee long-term stability,”
he said.
The minister commended President Tinubu for his decisive efforts in addressing long-standing challenges in the education sector, noting issues that had lingered for decades were now being tackled under his administration.
