Barely 12 hours after the officials of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) sought the intervention of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, the Federal Government has released ₦2.3 billion to universities across the country to clear outstanding salary and promotion arrears of their lecturers.
Recall that ASUU officials, led by its National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, sought Sen. Wamakko’s mediation to restore stability and end recurring strikes in Nigeria’s university system.
Senator Wamakko assured the ASUU delegation of his readiness to use his influence and experience to help resolve the crisis, while noting that education remained central to national development and pledged to work towards restoring normalcy in the university system.
Shortly thereafter, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, while giving updates on the Federal Government’s ongoing engagement with ASUU and other tertiary institution unions, announced the release of N2.3 billion to universities.
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The Minister reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s tertiary education sector through decisive fiscal interventions, policy reforms, and sustained dialogue.
According to Alausa, the ₦2.311 billion released—representing Batch 8 salary and promotion arrears—was processed through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation as part of the administration’s resolve to clear inherited backlogs and enhance the welfare of academic and non-academic staff.
“Benefiting institutions should begin to receive payment alerts anytime from now,” he said in a statement issued by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education.
The minister further disclosed that the government, through the Ministry of Finance and the OAGF, is finalising the release of third-party non-statutory deductions and pension remittances, expected to be completed in the coming days.
Alausa also revealed that the government has approved the full mainstreaming of the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) into university staff salaries beginning in 2026, to ensure prompt, predictable, and sustainable payments. In addition, funds have been released under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities scheme, with corresponding budgetary provisions made to sustain the initiative.
“The Federal Ministry of Education assures that these engagements are being conducted truthfully and in good faith. However, while the government remains committed to improving staff welfare, it will only enter into agreements that are realistic and financially sustainable,” Alausa said.
He emphasised that the Yayale Ahmed Negotiating Committee continues to serve as a bridge between the Federal Government and university unions, working to resolve all pending welfare-related issues through sincere and respectful dialogue.
Meanwhile, several lecturers who spoke to Ashenews on Wednesday night expressed concerns that their October 2025 salaries had yet to be paid despite the government’s announcement.
A lecturer from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said, “I can speak with all authority that the October salaries have not been paid, so we are surprised at the announcement by the ministry.” Another lecturer from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, added, “It is now becoming a trend. The government delays our salaries without any explanation.”
ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, could not be immediately reached for comment, but a branch chairman of the union in a northern university confirmed that payments had not yet been received.
ASUU has been in a prolonged standoff with the Federal Government over withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and unfulfilled agreements dating back to 2009. The union recently suspended a two-week warning strike after interventions by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the National Assembly.
Among ASUU’s key demands are the implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, payment of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, revitalisation funding for public universities, and settlement of promotion arrears spanning over four years.
The Yayale Ahmed Committee, established to renegotiate the agreement, submitted its report in December 2024, but implementation is yet to commence.
