ABUJA – The Federal Government has released ₦2.3 billion to unions in federal universities to clear the backlog of arrears.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday while giving updates on the government’s ongoing engagements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary institution unions.

Alausa said the release of funds, processed through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), underscored President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to resolving inherited backlogs and improving staff welfare in the education sector.

“A total of ₦2.311 billion has been released through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to universities. Benefiting institutions should begin to receive payment alerts anytime from now,” the minister said.

He added that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance and the OAGF, was finalising the release of third-party non-statutory deductions and pension remittances to NUPEMCO, expected to be completed in the coming days.

Alausa also revealed that the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) would be fully integrated into university staff salaries from 2026 to ensure predictable and timely payments.

He said funds had equally been released under the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities project, with budgetary provisions made to sustain the initiative.

According to him, the government has, within the last 26 months, paid a significant portion of outstanding obligations while maintaining open communication with all university-based unions.

Alausa stressed that engagements with ASUU and other unions were being conducted “truthfully and in good faith,” adding that the government would only enter into agreements that were realistic and financially sustainable.

He noted that the Yayale Ahmed Negotiating Committee continued to serve as a bridge between the Federal Government and the unions, ensuring that welfare-related issues were resolved through honest and respectful dialogue.

“Our priority is to ensure that all matters are addressed responsibly and in the best interest of our education system. All commitments must align with approved budgetary provisions to guarantee long-term stability,” he stated.

The minister commended President Tinubu for his “unwavering dedication” to the education sector, noting that several long-standing challenges were now being addressed decisively under his administration.