By joshua
SSANU FEDERAL UNIVERSITY LOKOJA BRANCH CALLS ON PRESIDENT TINUBU TO RELEASE OUTSTANDING CONTTA ARREARS AND CLARIFY NUC DIRECTIVE ON EARNED ALLOWANCES
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Federal University Lokoja Branch, under the leadership of its Branch Chairman, respectfully calls on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, through the Honourable Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC), to urgently intervene in the shortfall in the recently announced release of eight (8) months’ arrears of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Teaching and Non-Teaching Allowance (CONTTA) owed to workers in affected tertiary institutions across the country.
While the Branch acknowledges the Federal Government’s announcement and appreciates the efforts made towards settling these outstanding entitlements, we are deeply concerned that the funds reportedly released to tertiary institutions are grossly inadequate. Available information indicates that the amount allocated is insufficient to cover even four (4) months of the eight (8) months’ arrears announced.
This shortfall has understandably caused concern among university workers who have waited patiently for the settlement of their legitimate entitlements. An announcement of payment should translate into adequate funding and actual disbursement to eligible workers, rather than leave institutions struggling with insufficient allocations.
Consequently, SSANU, Federal University Lokoja Branch, calls on the Federal Government to immediately release the outstanding balance required to cover the full eight (8) months’ CONTTA arrears to all affected universities and tertiary institutions. We further urge the relevant authorities to provide a transparent breakdown of the funds released to each institution and the number of months covered by the allocation.
CONCERN OVER THE NUC CIRCULAR ON EARNED ALLOWANCES
The Branch also wishes to draw the urgent attention of the President, the Honourable Minister of Education and the NUC to an earlier circular reportedly directing universities to address earned allowances from their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
We are concerned that this directive appears inconsistent with our understanding of the applicable agreements between SSANU and the Federal Government and has created uncertainty regarding the responsibility for funding these allowances.
For the avoidance of doubt, SSANU, Federal University Lokoja Branch, is not aware of any provision in the 2026 SSANU–Federal Government Agreement that expressly transfers the responsibility for funding earned allowances to individual universities through their IGR. We therefore call for an immediate review and clarification of the circular, with due regard to the provisions of the 2026 Agreement and any subsequent applicable agreements.
We maintain that administrative circulars should not create confusion, undermine applicable agreements or shift financial obligations without a clear and established basis. Universities already face significant financial and operational responsibilities, and directing them to settle these obligations from IGR without a clear and consistent funding framework may further complicate the payment of staff entitlements.
OUR DEMANDS
In view of the foregoing, SSANU, Federal University Lokoja Branch, respectfully calls on the Federal Government and the relevant authorities to:
1. Immediately release the outstanding balance of CONTTA arrears to enable payment of the full eight (8) months announced to eligible workers in all affected tertiary institutions.
2. Provide a transparent breakdown of the funds released and the number of months covered for each institution.
3. Urgently clarify and review the NUC circular on the funding of earned allowances through institutional IGR.
4. Ensure that the implementation of any funding directive is consistent with applicable agreements between SSANU and the Federal Government.
5. Establish a clear, sustainable and uniform funding framework that guarantees the timely settlement of workers’ legitimate allowances across affected institutions.
CONCLUSION
SSANU, Federal University Lokoja Branch, remains committed to constructive engagement, peaceful dialogue and the pursuit of industrial harmony. However, industrial harmony can only be sustained where agreements are respected, official commitments are honoured and workers receive their legitimate entitlements without unnecessary delays.
We therefore respectfully appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Honourable Minister of Education and the National Universities Commission, to intervene urgently, ensure the release of the outstanding CONTTA funds and resolve the confusion surrounding the NUC circular on earned allowances.
University workers deserve fairness, transparency and the full payment of their legitimate entitlements. The Federal Government should ensure that the announced relief reaches the workers for whom it was intended.
Solidarity Forever!
Signed:
Comrade Kadiri Ismaila Ndakata
Branch Chairman
Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)
Federal University Lokoja Branch