The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has warned Vice-Chancellors of federal universities against delaying the payment of the recently approved Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), Consolidated Non-Academic Tools Allowance (CONTA) and other allowances to staff.
In a statement by the Special Adviser Media and Communications to the Minister, Ikharo Attah on Sunday at a meeting with university vice-chancellors, Alausa said the move reflects mounting pressure on public universities to manage scarce federal allocations transparently, and insisted that funds released for personnel costs must be used strictly for their approved purposes.
Alausa told vice-chancellors that delays in paying entitlements, including the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance, or CATA; the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance, or CONTA; and the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, known as CONMESS were “not right” and “not acceptable.”
He said university administrators must ensure eligible employees receive their legitimate payments promptly, according to the statement.
The minister said the federal government had worked with the finance ministry and other authorities to address funding shortfalls and clear arrears owed to university staff.
Some institutions began payments in January, he said, while others later ran into difficulties as reserves declined.
Government intervention has helped resolve many of those problems, with arrears reportedly settled through September, according to the minister.
Yet he acknowledged that some eligible staff members still haven’t received their entitlements, a situation he said university leaders must correct with relevant authorities.
He said personnel allocations are based on approved wage bills and disbursed monthly,
Alausa said changes in staffing from retirements, attrition and other factors can alter actual expenditure, making disciplined financial management essential.
The Minister also addressed university autonomy, a longstanding issue in the higher-education sector.
He reiterated that the federal government supports institutions’ ability to manage their internal affairs within the law, however, that freedom must come with responsible leadership, transparency and integrity in appointments, recruitment and administration.
“University managements must demonstrate accountability while working to improve teaching and learning, strengthen institutional administration and expand educational opportunities for Nigerian students,” he said.
The Minister urged vice-chancellors to maintain constructive engagement with the federal government, prioritize staff welfare and preserve industrial harmony to avoid disruptions to academic activities.
The education ministry, he added, would continue working with universities to resolve outstanding payments and strengthen accountability in the use of public resources.
