The Federal Government has released N50 billion to settle allowances owed to university workers.
This includes both academic and non-academic staff in federal universities across Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, made this known on Wednesday in a statement shared by the ministry’s Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo.
According to the statement, the money is for earned allowances, which President Bola Tinubu had earlier promised to pay.
Boriowo said, “This move is another strong proof of President Tinubu’s commitment to improve Nigeria’s education sector. It shows his plan to shift Nigeria from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy by investing in education, infrastructure, and people.”
Speaking further, the Minister said the payment means more than just money—it shows how much the President believes in young Nigerians and values the hard work of university staff.
“This is a way of supporting the teachers and workers who help build the minds of our students. When we take care of them, we’re also building a better future for every Nigerian child,” Alausa said.
He also praised the academic and non-academic staff for trusting the government and helping maintain peace in the universities.
“Right now, the country is enjoying one of the longest periods of uninterrupted university sessions in many years. This is possible because of the good relationship between the government and the schools,” the statement added.
President Tinubu also gave his assurance that education is one of his top priorities.
“The youth are the heartbeat of our country. Their future is extremely important to me and my administration. Keeping our children in school is not negotiable. It is my commitment that strikes in our institutions will soon become a thing of the past,” the President said.
University staff unions, especially ASUU, have long demanded the release of these earned allowances. Many of their past strikes were over unpaid entitlements and poor funding. With this payment, the government hopes to avoid further disruptions in the university system.
