Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa confirms release of CONTA arrears from January to August 2026, boosting industrial harmony across tertiary institutions including UNN, UNIZIK, and FUTO.
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government has released the Consolidated Non-Academic Staff Tertiary Institutions Allowance (CONTA) covering eight months—from January to August 2026—for non-academic staff across all Federal Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education nationwide.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, announced the disbursement on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, stating that the payment reflects the commitment of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to improving workers’ welfare, strengthening industrial harmony, and creating an enabling environment for quality education under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The release of CONTA follows the commencement of payments for the Consolidated Academic Tertiary Institutions Allowance (CATA) to academic staff on Monday, October 5. Dr. Alausa underscored that the administration recognizes that the welfare, motivation, and sustained commitment of both academic and non-academic personnel are essential to the stability and effective functioning of tertiary institutions and the overall development of Nigeria’s human capital.
According to the Minister, the payments represent part of the Federal Government’s sustained efforts to address legitimate welfare concerns, promote industrial harmony, and minimize disruptions to academic calendars across the country’s higher education system. He added that the administration remains committed to strengthening the institutions responsible for producing the skilled workforce needed to drive Nigeria’s socio-economic growth.
The disbursement brings immediate financial relief and operational stability to major Federal institutions across the South-East region, including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI), Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, and the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu. Non-academic staff unions across these campuses had previously voiced concerns over allowance delays, and today’s payment is expected to defuse lingering industrial tension and safeguard uninterrupted academic calendars.
Dr. Alausa assured stakeholders that the Federal Ministry of Education will continue to engage relevant labor unions, institutional authorities, and key stakeholders to address remaining outstanding issues and build a resilient, productive tertiary education framework.
