The Federal Government has commenced the implementation of key welfare provisions agreed upon in the newly renegotiated 2025 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), including a 40 per cent increase in the Consolidated Academic Allowance (CAA) for lecturers in federal universities.

This was disclosed on Monday by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, in an official statement and directive addressed to vice-chancellors of federal universities.

The latest development follows the signing of the revised agreement on January 14, 2026, a pact that concluded months of negotiations aimed at averting further strikes and improving conditions in the country’s public tertiary institutions.

“The Federal Government has fulfilled its obligation under the agreement by approving the 40 per cent consolidated academic allowance (CAA) increase for ASUU members, with effect from January 1, 2026,” Alausa stated.

The Minister confirmed that some federal universities have already commenced salary adjustments reflecting the allowance increase, while others are expected to follow suit.

Vice-chancellors across the country have now been formally directed to integrate the increment into their payroll systems to ensure that eligible academic staff receive the enhanced payments promptly.

“We are working to ensure uniform implementation nationwide. All VCs have been notified and are expected to comply without delay,” Alausa added.

In addition to the CAA, the Minister emphasised the mandatory implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), which he said is non-taxable and already captured in the 2026 federal budget.

According to him, the allowance has also been circularised by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and processed through all necessary statutory channels.

“Timely implementation of both the CAA and CATA will strengthen the academic environment, boost staff morale, and improve outcomes in teaching, research, and learning across Nigerian universities,” Alausa stated.

The Education Minister reiterated the administration’s commitment to honoring agreements reached with stakeholders in the education sector, stressing that the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Our focus is on transparency, industrial harmony, and measurable improvements in the quality of higher education,” Alausa said.

The implementation of the revised allowances marks a significant step in addressing longstanding grievances within the university system, as ASUU had frequently cited poor funding and unmet agreements as reasons for its repeated strike actions.

The government hopes that the measures will not only foster industrial peace but also reinvigorate academic productivity across the nation’s tertiary institutions.