The federal government has released funds for the payment of five months accumulated consolidated academic tools allowance (CATA) to eligible lecturers across universities.
CATA is a fixed allowance designed to provide academic staff with the essential tools needed for effective teaching and research.
It covers expenses related to journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society memberships and books.
The allowance was revised under the 2025 federal government–ASUU agreement signed on January 14, 2026, becoming a major component of the new remuneration package for university lecturers and forming part of the 40 percent upward review of their emoluments.
In a circular dated June 4 with reference FME/IS/UNI/C.98/Vol.2/14 and addressed to vice-chancellors of federal universities, Tunji Alausa, minister of education, said the government has released funds for the payment of CATA areas owed to the lecturers since January 2026.
Alausa said the payment is in furtherance of the federal government’s commitment to effective implementation of the renegotiated agreements with ASUU.
The minister said the vice-chancellors have been directed to ensure the immediate clearance of all outstanding CATA payments due to lecturers and other eligible academic staff in their universities.
“I write to inform you that the Federal Government has released funds for the payment of five (5) months Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to eligible academic staff of federal universities, in accordance with the provisions of the signed FGN/ASUU 2025 Agreement, and in fulfilment of the FGN’s commitment to effective implementation of the agreement,” the circular reads.
“Consequently, you are requested to ensure the immediate clearance of all outstanding CATA payments due to lecturers and other eligible academic staff in your university.
“In addition, where the university had advanced funds from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) or any other institutional source for the payment of the allowance from January 2026, appropriate steps should be taken to refund such amounts to the relevant university accounts and budget heads upon receipt of the Federal Government allocation.”
The minister directed the vice-chancellors to ensure strict compliance with extant financial regulations and maintain proper records of all payments and reimbursements effected under the new arrangement.
Background
The development follows a recent complaint by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over what it described as the government’s “haphazard” implementation of the renegotiated agreement on earned academic allowances (EAA).
Speaking with Newsmen, Chris Piwuna, president of ASUU, said the unpaid EAA had stretched to 18 months as of May.
His comment comes amid growing agitations across ASUU state chapters, warning the government of imminent industrial action if the renegotiated agreements signed with the union are not fully implemented.
EAA is a duty-based allowance paid to academic staff for specific tasks performed beyond their regular teaching responsibilities.
Such duties include postgraduate supervision, external moderation, fieldwork, industrial training supervision and other approved academic engagements.
Unlike CATA, which is paid as a standing allowance, EAA is earned only when the relevant duties are carried out.
In October 2025, the government said it released N2.3 billion to university-based unions to clear the backlog of outstanding arrears
