FG BEGINS CATA, CONTTA PAYMENTS, SAYS FOUR-YEAR COURSES MUST END IN FOUR YEARS

The Federal Government has unveiled the 2026 agreements reached with academic and non-academic staff unions in tertiary institutions and commenced payment of approved allowances to eligible personnel nationwide, effective January 1, 2026.

The FG CATA CONTTA Tertiary workers allowances announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, on Tuesday in Abuja during the formal unveiling of the agreements brochure.

THE ALLOWANCES

According to the Federal Ministry of Education, the agreements provide for the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) for eligible members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).

The agreements also provide for the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA) for eligible non-teaching personnel across tertiary institutions, in line with agreed provisions and implementation guidelines.

The allowances took effect from January 1, 2026, and are designed to support the professional and operational needs of eligible staff.

HOW TO CHECK PAYMENT STATUS

The ministry did not state individual payment amounts in the announcement. Workers should confirm their individual payment status through their institution’s management or payroll office, as eligibility and processing may depend on the applicable agreement and administrative procedures.

Academic and non-academic staff should check official notices from their institutions, confirm their eligibility under the relevant agreement and contact their payroll or human resources office about payment status.

The announcement did not provide a public application portal or a universal individual payment amount.

THE AGREEMENTS

The agreements cover CATA for ASUP and COEASU, and CONTTA for non-teaching staff unions across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

The agreements also provide for a three-year review, allowing the parties to assess implementation and address emerging concerns through continued engagement.

EXPANDED MONITORING COMMITTEE

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In a move aimed at preventing future disputes over implementation, Alausa announced the expansion of the existing Implementation and Monitoring Committee (IMC) established for the agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Under the new arrangement, the committee will become a single monitoring platform for agreements with academic and non-academic staff unions across tertiary institutions.

Its membership will be broadened to accommodate the relevant unions and stakeholders, with responsibility for tracking agreed milestones, assessing progress, resolving implementation challenges and ensuring accountability through periodic reports.

According to Alausa, the committee will monitor both achievements and outstanding obligations to ensure that commitments are implemented within agreed timelines.

The government intended to identify implementation difficulties early and resolve them before they degenerated into disputes capable of disrupting academic activities.

“A PROMISE MADE, A PROMISE KEPT”

Alausa said the agreements aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to ensure that students complete four-year programmes within the stipulated period.

“During his campaign, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promised that a four-year course would be completed in four years. Today, through his leadership, these agreements give practical expression to that pledge: A promise made, a promise kept, and trust restored,” the minister said.

He acknowledged, however, that the unveiling of the agreements was only the beginning, stressing that their credibility would ultimately depend on the government’s ability to implement the provisions faithfully.

“Let me state clearly, on behalf of the Federal Government: We will fulfil our own part of these historic agreements. We recognise that public confidence will depend on the obligations we honour after this ceremony,” he said.

THE NEGOTIATION COMMITTEE

The Chairman of the Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, commended the government and the unions for reaching the agreements through collective bargaining, dialogue and mutual understanding.

Ahmed urged the unions to exercise patience during implementation, noting that administrative processes could sometimes take time.

THE UNIONS’ RESPONSE

The President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, commended the government and the education minister for addressing longstanding workers’ concerns.

He said the payment of outstanding salary arrears and the implementation of the allowances had boosted staff morale.

However, he urged the government to fulfil all provisions of the agreements, warning that the payment of allowances should not overshadow other outstanding commitments.

“There are other non-financial commitments in the agreement which the government needs to promptly implement,” he said.

The minister presented the signed agreements to representatives of the participating unions, including ASUP, COEASU, SSANU, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Nigerian Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), among others.

WHY IT MATTERS

The agreements represent a significant step toward ending the cycle of industrial action that has disrupted academic calendars in Nigerian tertiary institutions for decades.

Previous agreements between successive governments and staff unions were often undermined by delayed, incomplete or unfulfilled commitments, leading to recurring strikes.

Prolonged strikes created uncertainty around academic calendars, making it difficult for students to complete their programmes within the prescribed periods.

The Tinubu administration has pledged to reverse this trend by building a system in which agreements are respected and academic activities proceed without unnecessary interruptions.

Whether the government honours its commitments will determine whether this promise is kept.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the FG has commenced payment of CATA and CONTTA allowances. Eligible workers should contact their institution’s payroll office to confirm their payment status.