Education Minister says disbursement marks a decisive shift toward lasting peace and strategic investment in Nigeria’s university system.
Byline:
By IDNN Education Correspondent | April 23, 2025
[ABUJA] — The Federal Government of Nigeria has released ₦50 billion as earned allowances to academic and non-academic staff of federal universities, fulfilling a key commitment made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The announcement was made Wednesday in a statement titled “FG Releases ₦50bn Earned Allowances to Varsity Unions, Tinubu Reaffirms Education Priority”, signed by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education.
“This is not just a financial transaction,” said Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa. “It is a reaffirmation of our President’s belief in the capacity of Nigerian youth and the invaluable role our educators play in nurturing them.”
A Shift from Dispute to Dialogue
The ₦50 billion release marks a watershed moment in government-union relations, following years of industrial strikes and broken agreements under previous administrations. The funds will cover earned academic and non-academic allowances that have accumulated over several years.
“This intervention shows Tinubu’s bold resolve to transition Nigeria from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy,” the Ministry stated.
The disbursement is seen as part of a broader policy shift toward peace and stability in tertiary institutions, which have long been plagued by recurring industrial action.
Tinubu’s Pledge: End Strikes, Empower Youth
President Tinubu, through Minister Alausa, expressed gratitude to university-based unions for maintaining peace and reaffirmed his administration’s stance on keeping students in school:
“The youth are the heartbeat of our country. Keeping our children in school is not negotiable. Strikes must soon become a thing of the past,” he declared.
Government sources also highlighted that Nigeria is currently witnessing one of its longest uninterrupted academic sessions in recent memory, a feat they attribute to ongoing engagement with unions and the fulfillment of past promises.
Context: A History of Broken Promises
For years, unions such as ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities), NASU, and SSANU have protested the non-payment of earned allowances and other unmet demands, leading to prolonged strikes that disrupted academic calendars and eroded public trust.
This latest financial commitment is viewed as a confidence-building gesture, but analysts warn that structural reforms and consistent follow-through are essential to avoid a relapse into confrontation.
“This is a good move, but it must be backed by transparent processes and policy continuity,” said Dr. Florence Ayoola, an education economist at the University of Lagos.
External Resources
A Thought-Provoking Close: Beyond Cheques—Can We Fix the System?
While the ₦50 billion payout addresses an urgent need, it raises deeper questions:
Can one-off disbursements truly transform Nigeria’s troubled education system?
Or are they merely band-aids on a wounded structure?
For genuine transformation, experts insist the government must address deeper issues—research funding, campus infrastructure, digital learning upgrades, and lecturer training—beyond resolving arrears.
Tinubu’s administration has taken a vital step. But unless this momentum is turned into systemic reform, the risk remains that Nigeria’s education sector may slip back into the same vicious cycle of promises, protests, and pauses.
