Nigeria’s federal government has directed public universities to begin paying a new tax‑free allowance to lecturers, fulfilling part of its recent agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa said federal universities should immediately implement the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), even as the 2026 budget process continues.

The allowance; which ranges from just over ₦1 million per year for entry‑level lecturers to more than ₦3 million for professors, is exempt from personal income tax, meaning it will directly increase lecturers’ take‑home pay.

Government officials say the payment is part of a broader 40% review of academic compensation and is designed to support teaching and research. Unlike base salaries under the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS), which remain taxable, CATA is intended to cover work‑related expenses such as research materials, books, software and fieldwork.

In a memo to vice chancellors, Alausa said prompt implementation would demonstrate the government’s commitment to honoring negotiated agreements, improve staff morale and promote stability across Nigeria’s universities.

The move comes amid ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s higher education system and prevent the labor disputes that have frequently disrupted academic calendars in recent years.