The Federal Government has released funds for the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to academic staff in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for the period January to August 2026.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking shortly after inaugurating the Ministerial Committee on Accreditation.
Alausa said the payment was in line with the provisions of the 2025 Federal Government–Academic Staff Union of Universities agreement.
He explained that CATA was designed to assist academic staff in purchasing essential tools and materials needed for teaching, research and other academic activities.
“The Office of the Minister of Education is happy to announce that the full CATA payment has now been released by the Federal Government from January to August 2026 to all universities, all polytechnics and colleges of education.
“All these institutions should have received notification to start paying CATA to all academic staff,” the minister said.
Alausa, however, disclosed that payment of the allowance to non-academic staff was still being processed and was expected to be released in the coming weeks.
He described the payment as another demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare of academic and non-academic staff in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The minister also highlighted the administration’s investments in infrastructure across tertiary institutions, as well as in basic and postgraduate education.
According to him, the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that Nigerian children have access to quality education that meets international standards.
Alausa commended President Tinubu for what he described as his transformative efforts in the education sector.
