The Federal Ministry of Education has directed vice chancellors of federal universities to submit comprehensive records of outstanding promotion arrears, salaries, third-party deductions, and pension arrears. The request was issued through the National Universities Commission in a memo signed by J.N. Akpa, Deputy Director of Universities at the ministry.
The move follows the announcement by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, that N2.3bn has been released for the payment of accumulated promotion arrears owed to lecturers. According to the memo, the figures are needed to enable the Nigerian University Pension Management Company to process pending payments.
Vice chancellors were instructed to compile the information in a tabular Excel format and submit hard and soft copies to the office of the NUC Executive Secretary.
In a statement issued last week, ministry spokesperson Folasade Boriowo confirmed that the N2.3bn disbursement represents Batch 8 of salary and promotion arrears processed by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. Alausa said the release reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing long-standing welfare issues in the tertiary education system.
He added that the Federal Government is finalising payments for outstanding third-party deductions and pension remittances, expected to be completed shortly.
To ensure more predictable payments, Alausa announced the approval for full mainstreaming of the Earned Academic Allowance into university staff salaries beginning in 2026. Funds have also been released under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities project, with additional budgetary provisions secured for continuity.
The latest steps mark progress in addressing demands raised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities. ASUU recently suspended a two-week warning strike after interventions by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the National Assembly.
Key issues yet to be resolved include the payment of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, revitalisation funding for universities, implementation of the renegotiated 2009 FG–ASUU Agreement, and the clearance of cooperative deductions and remaining promotion arrears. The most recent renegotiation report, submitted by the Yayale Ahmed-led committee in December 2024, is still awaiting implementation.
