The Nigerian minister of education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has urged vice chancellors of the country’s federal universities to ensure timely payment of eligible staff entitlements under the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTA) and Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to workers’ welfare, accountability in personnel funding and respect for university autonomy.
Alausa made the call during a meeting with the vice chancellors of federal universities, where he stressed the need for university managements to fulfil their responsibilities to staff while ensuring the prudent and transparent use of public funds allocated for personnel costs.
The minister reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and strengthening Nigeria’s university system, noting that the federal government had engaged relevant authorities, including the ministry of finance, to address funding challenges and facilitate the settlement of outstanding arrears.
He explained that although some universities had made payments in January, several subsequently encountered financial constraints as their available reserves declined. Government intervention, he said, helped address the outstanding funding issues, with arrears reportedly paid up to September.
The minister however expressed concern over reports of continued delays in payments to eligible university staff despite measures taken to address the funding challenges. He urged vice chancellors to work with relevant authorities to resolve outstanding cases and ensure that affected employees receive their entitlements.
He explained that personnel allocations were based on approved wage bills and disbursed monthly, while changes in staff strength arising from retirements, attrition and other circumstances could affect actual personnel expenditure.
Alausa emphasised that funds allocated for personnel costs must be applied to their approved purposes, stressing that university managements had a responsibility to demonstrate prudent financial management, transparency and accountability in the administration of public resources.
“It is not right. It is not acceptable,” he said.
Alausa also underscored the importance of ensuring that workers received their legitimate entitlements without avoidable administrative or financial management delays.
He added that the ministry would continue to engage relevant university authorities to address outstanding payment issues and promote accountability in the management of public funds in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
On university autonomy, Alausa reiterated the federal government’s commitment to allowing universities to manage their internal affairs within the framework of applicable laws and regulations. He urged vice chancellors to uphold transparency, integrity and accountability in institutional appointments, recruitment and administration.
The minister noted that autonomy must be accompanied by responsible leadership and a commitment to improving teaching and learning, strengthening institutional administration and expanding educational opportunities for Nigerian students.
He called on vice chancellors to sustain constructive engagement with the federal government, prioritise staff welfare and promote industrial harmony to minimise avoidable disruptions to academic activities.
Alausa reaffirmed that the federal government would continue to engage stakeholders and pursue measures to strengthen Nigeria’s higher education system, with emphasis on workers’ welfare, institutional accountability, university autonomy and the delivery of quality education.
