Abuja, Nigeria – April 23, 2025 – In a major policy breakthrough, the Federal Government of Nigeria has released N50 billion to the academic and non-academic staff unions of federal universities for the payment of earned allowances, fulfilling a longstanding promise made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This was disclosed in an official statement issued on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade (Mrs.).
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, described the fund release as “a landmark development” and “a reaffirmation of our President’s belief in the capacity of Nigerian youth and the invaluable role that academic and non-academic staff play in nurturing them.”
“This intervention is not just a financial transaction,” Dr. Alausa said. “By prioritizing the welfare of university staff, we are laying the foundation for a future where every Nigerian child receives highly qualitative and globally competitive education.”
The payment addresses years of agitation by university unions, who have consistently demanded the settlement of earned academic allowances and improved welfare packages.
President Tinubu, in his renewed pledge, stated: “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.”
Reactions have begun to trail the announcement from key stakeholders in the education sector.
Speaking to PUNCH, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), said: “We welcome this
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