FG Unveils 2026 Tertiary Education Agreements, Begins Staff Allowance Payments

The Federal Government has unveiled new agreements covering academic and non-academic staff unions in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector and commenced the payment of approved allowances to eligible personnel, effective January 1, 2026.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, announced the development, describing it as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to improve staff welfare, promote industrial harmony and ensure greater stability across the country’s educational institutions.

Under the agreements, eligible members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) are covered by the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA). Eligible non-teaching personnel are also covered by the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA), subject to the agreed provisions and implementation guidelines.

The Federal Government said the arrangements were designed to address staff welfare concerns and strengthen cooperation between the government and labour unions in the tertiary education sector.

To improve accountability, Alausa announced the expansion of the existing Implementation and Monitoring Committee to include both academic and non-academic unions. The expanded committee is expected to monitor compliance with the agreements and assess progress in their implementation.

The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, urged all parties to honour their respective obligations and sustain constructive engagement to prevent industrial disputes that could disrupt academic activities.

The agreements also provide for a three-year review to evaluate implementation, identify emerging challenges and address concerns raised by the relevant stakeholders.

The announcement comes amid continuing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s tertiary education system, where staff welfare, funding, industrial relations and uninterrupted academic calendars remain important policy considerations.

However, the effectiveness of the agreements will depend on consistent implementation, transparent monitoring and sustained cooperation among the government, university and college authorities, and the relevant staff unions.

The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to improving staff welfare, maintaining institutional stability and creating an environment in which students can complete their academic programmes without avoidable interruptions.

For Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, the implementation of these agreements will be a significant measure of the government’s ability to translate policy commitments into tangible improvements in working conditions and educational stability.

Nigeria’s Federal Government unveils 2026 tertiary education agreements and begins approved staff allowance payments, with new monitoring measures and a three-year review.