The Nigerian Government has released N50 billion to academic and non-academic staff unions of federal universities to settle outstanding earned allowances, while the disbursement follows a series of unresolved issues stemming from the 2009 agreement between the federal government and university-based unions.
Penpushing reports that the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Folashade Boriowo, explaining that the payment is part of the administration’s efforts to prioritise education and ensure uninterrupted academic activities in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
The Minister pointed out that this intervention is not just a financial transaction but a 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.
Alausa said by prioritising their welfare, government is laying the foundation for a future where every Nigerian child receives highly qualitative and globally competitive education.
The Minister emphasised that President Tinubu emphasised the importance of keeping students in school, asserting that strikes in educational institutions should become a thing of the past.
He said the Ministry of Education 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.
The union despite the government’s gesture, some university-based unions have raised concerns over disbursement regarding the allocation of the funds, while online report said the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) expressed dissatisfaction.
Penpushing reports that alleging that the disbursement disproportionately favors the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)., while the General Secretary, of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) Prince Adeyemi, was quoted to have criticised the government’s approach, stating that allocating 70 per cent of the funds to academic staff and only 30 per cent to non-teaching staff is unjust.
The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) similarly, opposed the planned release, arguing that earned academic allowances are meant specifically for teaching staff, and that non-teaching staff should receive their rightful share.
These concerns have led to warnings of potential industrial actions, which could disrupt the academic calendar, however, it is recalled that in an effort to address unresolved issues, the government inaugurated a new committee in October 2024 to renegotiate the agreement with Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions. (Penpushing)
