BREAKING: Nigerian Govt pays university, polytechnic lecturers’ tools allowance

The Federal Government has approved immediate and full 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.

This was disclosed by Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, shortly after inaugurating the Ministerial Committee on Accreditation on Wednesday.

DAILY POST reports that CATA is a financial allowance provided to academic staff to support the purchase of essential tools and materials required for teaching, research and other academic activities.

The minister revealed that the payment was in accordance with the provisions of the 2025 Federal Government–Academic Staff Union of Universities agreement and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to its implementation.

According to him, payment to non-academic staff was also being processed.

“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. And also, the payment to non-academic staff, we’re hoping that these funds will be made available, hopefully, in the next few weeks,” the minister said.