FG Moves to Clear Lecturers’ Arrears, Orders Varsities to Submit Debt Figures

The Federal Ministry of Education has asked all federal universities to submit detailed records of outstanding promotion arrears, salaries, third-party deductions, and pension arrears.

The directive, contained in a memo signed by Deputy Director (Universities), J.N. Akpa, was issued through the National Universities Commission (NUC).

This follows the announcement by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, that the Federal Government has released N2.3 billion for the payment of outstanding promotion arrears owed to lecturers.

According to the memo, the data will enable the Nigerian University Pension Management Company to process and settle the payments. Universities are to submit both hard and soft copies of the information to the NUC.

Last week, ministry spokesperson Folasade Boriowo said the N2.3bn represents Batch 8 of salary and promotion arrears processed by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Alausa described the move as part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to resolving welfare issues in the education sector transparently and sustainably.

He added that the government is also finalising the release of third-party deductions and pension remittances, expected soon.

To prevent future delays, Alausa announced that the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) will be fully integrated into university staff salaries from 2026.

He also disclosed that additional funds have been released under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities project to improve facilities and research funding.

This development comes shortly after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suspended its two-week warning strike, following the intervention of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the National Assembly.

ASUU’s remaining demands include the payment of withheld salaries, revitalisation funds, implementation of the renegotiated 2009 agreement, and settlement of promotion arrears and cooperative deductions.