BREAKING: FG pays university, polytechnic lecturers’ tools allowance

The Federal Government has approved the immediate and full payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, CATA, to academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for January to August 2026.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday shortly after inaugurating the Ministerial Committee on Accreditation.

Alausa said the payment was in line with the provisions of the 2025 Federal Government–Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, agreement.

“The Office of the Minister of Education is happy to announce that the full CATA payment has now been released by the Federal Government from January to August 2026 to all universities, all polytechnics and colleges of education,” the minister said.

He said the institutions had been notified to commence payment of the allowance to academic staff.

“All these institutions should have received notification to start paying CATA to all academic staff. And also, the payment to non-academic staff, we’re hoping that these funds will be made available, hopefully, in the next few weeks,” Alausa said.

The CATA is a financial allowance provided to academic staff to support the purchase of tools and materials required for teaching, research and other academic activities.

Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing the 2025 agreement with ASUU.