The Federal Government has released eight months’ arrears of the Consolidated Non-Academic Staff Tertiary Institutions Allowance (CONTA) to non-academic workers in federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The allowance covers January to August 2026 and was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday.
The payment came less than 48 hours after the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government over outstanding arrears, warning of an indefinite strike if its demands were not met.
SSANU had demanded the payment of arrears arising from the implementation of the 2026 Federal Government-SSANU agreement, which took effect from January 1, 2026. The union said failure to address the outstanding payments could lead to a total and indefinite industrial action.
Alausa said the release of CONTA demonstrated the government’s commitment to workers’ welfare and recognized the role of non-academic staff in keeping tertiary institutions functional.
He said the payment was aimed at strengthening industrial harmony, addressing workers’ welfare concerns, and preventing disruptions to academic activities.
The minister assured workers and unions that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue consultations with relevant stakeholders to resolve outstanding issues and promote stability in the tertiary education sector.
The development follows the Federal Government’s recent release of the corresponding eight-month Consolidated Academic Tertiary Institutions Allowance (CATA) to academic staff, covering the same January-August 2026 period.
SSANU has welcomed the release, describing it as a positive response to its demands and a demonstration of the government’s commitment to implementing agreements reached with university-based unions.
Leave feedback about this