The Federal Government has released ₦2.3 billion to clear outstanding salary and promotion arrears owed to university lecturers across the country.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this on Wednesday while providing updates on ongoing engagements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary institution unions.
Alausa said the disbursement, representing Batch 8 of arrears, was processed through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
He explained that the move underscores President Bola Tinubu's commitment to resolving inherited salary backlogs and improving the welfare of academic and non-academic staff in Nigerian universities.
According to him, a total of ₦2.311 billion has been released to universities through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and benefiting institutions should begin to receive payment alerts anytime from now.
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance and the OAGF, is finalising the release of third-party deductions and pension remittances expected to be completed in the coming days.
Alausa further revealed that beginning from 2026, the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) will be fully integrated into university salary structures to ensure regular and sustainable payments.
He added that additional funds had been released under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities, with budgetary provisions made to sustain the scheme.
Despite the government's announcement, some lecturers expressed scepticism over the payment, saying they had yet to receive any credit alerts.
A lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, who requested anonymity, said the government had developed a pattern of delaying salaries without explanation.
Similarly, an ASUU branch chairman in the North, who also spoke anonymously, confirmed that members were still awaiting payment, adding that, "We have not received a dime, not even our salaries."
ASUU has been in a prolonged standoff with the Federal Government over unpaid entitlements, implementation of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, and revitalisation of public universities.
The union recently suspended a two-week warning strike after interventions by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the National Assembly.
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The 2009 agreement renegotiation process, last led by a committee chaired by Yayale Ahmed, has remained stalled since its report was submitted in December 2024.