The Federal Government has released the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, CATA, covering January to August 2026 to academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday after inaugurating a ministerial committee on accreditation.
CATA is an allowance designed to support academic staff with the cost of acquiring materials and equipment required for teaching, research and other academic responsibilities.
Alausa said the payment was part of the Federal Government’s implementation of the 2025 agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
“The Ministry of Education is pleased to announce that the Federal Government has released the full CATA payment covering January to August 2026 for all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education,” Alausa said.
He added that the affected institutions had been notified to begin disbursing the allowance to eligible academic staff.
“All the affected institutions should have received notification to commence payment of CATA to their academic staff,” he said.
On payments to non-academic staff, the minister said the funds were expected to become available within the coming weeks.
“Regarding the payment to non-academic staff, we expect the funds to be made available within the next few weeks,” Alausa said.
The minister said the payment reflected the administration’s commitment to improving staff welfare and strengthening Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu has prioritised the welfare of workers in the education sector as part of efforts to improve the quality of education.
“President Bola Tinubu is committed to ensuring that the quality of education and the welfare of our staff remain priorities. He has placed the welfare of our staff at the forefront,” he said.
Alausa also highlighted ongoing government investments in infrastructure across tertiary institutions, as well as reforms targeting basic and postgraduate education.
He said the administration’s broader objective was to provide Nigerian children with quality education capable of meeting international standards.
“This is a President who has a strong commitment to education. He has gone beyond his promises to ensure that every child in the country has access to the highest quality of education, comparable with standards anywhere in the world,” Alausa said.
The latest announcement follows the Federal Government’s disclosure in June that it had released funds to settle five months of accumulated CATA owed to eligible lecturers in federal universities.
In a June 4 circular addressed to vice-chancellors of federal universities, Alausa said the payment was part of efforts to implement the renegotiated agreements reached with ASUU.
The development also comes amid concerns from ASUU over delays in implementing the renegotiated agreement, particularly provisions relating to earned academic allowances.
ASUU President Chris Piwuna told TheCable in May that outstanding earned academic allowances had accumulated to 18 months.
The union has continued to press the Federal Government to fully implement its agreements with ASUU, with concerns over outstanding payments remaining a key issue in the relationship between the government and academic staff.
Goodness Anunobi
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