Tinubu breaks 17-year-old jinx, pays eligible academic, non-teaching staff allowances

The federal government has unveiled new agreements on staff welfare allowances for academic and non-academic workers in tertiary institutions, reaffirming its commitment to improved working conditions, industrial harmony and uninterrupted academic calendars across the country.

Minister of Education Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa disclosed this Tuesday in Abuja at the unveiling of the 2026 agreements between the federal government and staff unions of tertiary institutions.

At the ceremony, the minister presented signed copies of the agreements to representatives of the participating staff unions, during which a union leader said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had broken a 17-year-old jinx.

The unions included the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Nigerian Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

 Others were the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic (SSANIP), Non-Teaching Staff Union of Polytechnics (NOTSUP), Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria (SSUCOEN), and other listed branches and categories of the participating unions.

Alausa described the agreements as a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to address longstanding welfare concerns, strengthen trust between the government and organised labour, and ensure that students complete their academic programmes without unnecessary disruptions.

He said the agreements reflected the commitment of the Tinubu administration to prioritising the welfare of education workers and protecting the future of Nigerian students under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The minister expressed appreciation to the president for providing the necessary support and leadership that enabled the negotiations to reach a successful conclusion, noting that the agreements represented a renewed commitment to fulfilling obligations made to workers in the education sector.

According to him, the unveiling marked an important advancement in staff welfare and academic stability, while reinforcing the government’s determination to build a tertiary education system where agreements are respected and students can pursue their studies with confidence.

He recalled that for decades, agreements between successive governments and staff unions had frequently been characterised by delayed, incomplete or unfulfilled commitments, resulting in recurring disputes and industrial actions.

Alausa said the situation had weakened confidence in the negotiation process and repeatedly disrupted academic activities in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

He noted that prolonged strikes had imposed significant hardships on students and their families, while also affecting teaching, research and the overall quality of education.

“Most importantly, students lost precious months and years. Families faced additional costs and uncertainty, while teaching and research suffered. A four-year programme too often extended beyond four years,” he said.

Recalling  Tinubu’s campaign promise that a four-year academic programme should be completed within the stipulated time, he said “Today, through his leadership, these agreements give practical expression to that pledge: A promise made, a promise kept, and trust restored.

“Let me state clearly, on behalf of the Federal Government: We will fulfil our own part of these historic agreements. We recognise that public confidence will depend on the obligations we honour after this ceremony.”

The minister explained that the agreements covered two major categories of allowances designed to support the professional and operational needs of eligible personnel across tertiary institutions.

According to him, the agreements include the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) for members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).

They also provide for the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA) for non-teaching staff unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Alausa said the allowances would take effect from January 1, 2026, in accordance with the agreements and applicable implementation guidelines.

He explained that the allowances were intended to provide support for the professional and operational requirements of eligible workers, adding that the welfare of education personnel remained critical to the delivery of quality tertiary education.

“The quality of tertiary education is inseparable from the welfare, motivation and professional wellbeing of its workforce. Staff must be supported with appropriate resources and conducive working environments to discharge their duties effectively,” he said.

And to ensure effective implementation of the agreements, the federal government expanded the existing Implementation and Monitoring Committee (IMC) established for the agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Alausa said the expanded committee would serve as a single monitoring platform for all agreements between the government and academic and non-academic staff unions across tertiary institutions.

 He added that the committee would provide a structured platform for the government and unions to address disagreements before escalating into industrial disputes capable of disrupting academic activities.

He charged relevant government agencies to ensure “Implementation must be timely, transparent and assessed against measurable obligations.”

Alausa also appealed to union leaders to keep their members informed about the implementation process and channel emerging concerns through the agreed mechanisms.

He said identifying and resolving difficulties early would be essential to sustaining confidence in the agreements and preventing unresolved issues from undermining industrial harmony.

 The minister maintained that industrial harmony remained essential to achieving excellence in tertiary education, noting that stable academic environments would enable institutions to plan effectively, sustain research activities and provide students with uninterrupted learning opportunities.

Alausa commended the leadership of ASUP, COEASU and the non-teaching staff unions for their constructive participation in the negotiations.

He  particularly commended the Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee, chaired by Malam Yayale Ahmed, CFR, for successfully concluding the negotiations, praising his experience, patience and dedication, alongside the diligence of the committee’s members.

ASUP

Speaking at the event, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Comrade Shammah Kpanja, described the agreement as the shortest, hoping for the implementation of outstanding aspects before 2027 general elections.

While describing the agreement as the fastest in two decades, he commanded the federal government for making it possible within the shortest time possible, beginning negotiation in December 2025 and sealing the deal in 2026. 

He said: “After the agreement was signed in April, after the payment of salary in July, we got arrears of January and February. After the payment of August salary, we got six-month arrears. After the payment of September salary, we got the arrears of September.

“I’m saying this because we must do so. Now that the agreement has been signed, there are other components of the agreement that need to be implemented. And that is where the problem is. We want to call on government to ensure that all components of this agreement are implemented seamlessly.

“There are other germane issues that need to be implemented. I want to believe that once this committee is inaugurated tomorrow, the government will ensure that these contents of this agreement are implemented before the end of this year. Because we know that by next year, there will be an election and we want everything to be done before that election.”

…SSANU

Also speaking, the National President, SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, commended the federal government for the progress made in addressing workers’ demands, saying the developments had brought renewed optimism to university employees.

 “Today, in Nigeria, our workers are extremely happy. What this government has been able to do is that you have broken the jinx. What other governments have not been able to do in 17 years, you did it in less than one year. Every member of the university community and inter-university centers have today declared that Nigeria must progress.

“We came into contact with you when you were appointed. You were not in Nigeria, and we were on the verge of going on strike. And you took the bold step of calling the leadership of our different unions, even before assuming duty. And the rest is history. You have assured us of your capacity and your ability to solve problems. I remember that was what gave us the two months withheld salaries out of the four months,” Ibrahim said.

 …COEASU

On his part, the National President of COEASU, Dr. Ahmed Bazza Lawan, said the coming of President Tinubu in 2023 revived hopes in the education sector.

He said: “For us, in the College of Education sub-sector, our unions have been working together. For us, in 2024, a Renewed Hope roadmap was developed for the tertiary education sector. And that roadmap gave us hope, especially the College of Education sub-sector. I think the benefits that are accrued from this government, even the older sub-sector, I think the College of Education is the number one that have done it. The dual mandate that the chairman just mentioned is a new move, thinking out of the box, that several governments were shy to implement.

 “For us at our union, we have received all. In fact, the slogan now in the College of Education is, they will ask you, “Have you been catalyzed this month?” So we have been catalyzed until September. And I believe my colleagues too, they will be catalyzed, or they have been catalyzed too.

“So I want to inform you, for us at the College of Education sub-sector, even without the inauguration of the implementation committee, I can tell you as of today, we are measuring, we have achieved over 70% of the agreement that has been signed in the paper. Just a little, I think one or two things, and I believe with the committee, we will all succeed in doing that.”

…Yayale  

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Federal Government Negotiation Team, Mallam Yayale Ahmed, urged the unions not to take the president’s commitment to resolving challenges in the education sector for granted, warning that threats of industrial action should not be allowed to derail the implementation process.