The Federal Government had released the sum of ₦50 billion to the academic and non-academic staff unions of federal universities for the settlement of their Earned Allowances as promised by President Bola Tinubu.
This was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have long engaged in prolonged negotiations regarding the payment of earned academic allowances to university lecturers.
The allowances were part of agreements stemming from the 2009 Federal Government-ASUU pact.
Although the government pledged to release the funds and shift future payment responsibilities to university governing councils, implementation was delayed.
However, in a press statement by the Ministry of Education spokesperson, Boriowo Folasade, the Minister said the intervention was not just a financial transaction, but reaffirmation of the President’s belief in the capacity of Nigerian youth and the invaluable role that academic and non-academic staff play in nurturing them.
“By prioritising their welfare, we are laying the foundation for a future where every Nigerian child receives highly qualitative and globally competitive education.
“The Minister expresses President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s heartfelt appreciation to both academic and non-academic unions for their sustained trust in his administration and for fostering an atmosphere of peace and cooperation across Nigeria’s federal institutions.
“Notably, the country is currently experiencing one of the longest uninterrupted academic sessions in recent history a feat attributed to the mutual understanding and shared commitment between the government and the university community.
“The President reiterated that, ‘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 forever’,” the statement said.
She said the Ministry has also pledged to continue working collaboratively with all stakeholders across the education value chain to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to quality education, comparable to global standards.
“This announcement marks a significant step in the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reinforces the Federal Government’s determination to make the Nigerian education sector a shining model for Africa and the world,” it added.
