The federal government has started rolling out key welfare measures following its renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The agreement, signed on January 14, 2026, came after extensive negotiations in 2025 aimed at addressing recurring strikes in Nigeria’s public universities.
In a statement on Monday, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa confirmed that the 40 percent increase in the Consolidated Academic Allowance (CAA) for ASUU members has taken effect from January 1, 2026. Some federal universities have already reflected the increment in salary payments, with efforts ongoing to ensure uniform implementation nationwide.
Vice-chancellors have been formally directed to fully integrate the allowance increase into their payroll systems, ensuring all eligible academic staff benefit. Alausa also instructed universities to comply with the implementation framework for the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), highlighting the importance of prudent resource management for timely disbursement.
The minister emphasized that the CATA payment has been included in the 2026 budget following statutory procedures and circularisation by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
According to Alausa, the timely implementation of both the CAA increase and CATA will strengthen the academic environment, boost staff morale, and enhance teaching, research, and learning outcomes across federal universities. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparency, sustained engagement with stakeholders, and improving the quality of education in Nigeria.
