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Federal Government releases eight months of CONTA covering January to August 2026 for non-academic staff of all federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
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Education Minister Maruf Tunji Alausa says the payment is aimed at addressing workers’ welfare concerns and strengthening industrial harmony, as the government seeks to minimise disruptions across the tertiary education system.
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The release comes days after the commencement of CATA payment to academic staff, indicating the Federal Government’s effort to meet allowance obligations to both academic and non-academic personnel.
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FG promises continued engagement with unions and institutional authorities to resolve outstanding issues and promote a stable, productive and globally competitive tertiary education system.
October 07, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has released the Consolidated Non-Academic Staff Tertiary Institutions Allowance (CONTA) covering January to August 2026 to non-academic staff of all federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.
The development was announced by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Boriowo Folasade.
The payment comes shortly after the commencement of the Consolidated Academic Tertiary Institutions Allowance (CATA) to academic staff, as the Federal Government moves to fulfil its allowance obligations to personnel across the federal tertiary education system.
Alausa said the release of CONTA reflected the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to improving workers’ welfare, strengthening industrial harmony and creating an enabling environment for the effective delivery of quality education.
The minister said the government recognised that the welfare, motivation and commitment of both academic and non-academic personnel were essential to the stability and effective functioning of tertiary institutions.
According to him, the payment was also part of the Federal Government’s sustained efforts to address legitimate welfare concerns, promote industrial harmony and minimise disruptions to academic activities across the nation’s tertiary education system.
“The release of CONTA underscores the Administration’s recognition that the welfare, motivation and commitment of both academic and non-academic personnel are essential to the stability and effective functioning of tertiary institutions and, ultimately, to the development of Nigeria’s human capital,” Alausa said.
He added that the payments reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to strengthening institutions responsible for producing the skilled workforce required to drive Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
FG Targets Industrial Harmony
The minister said the payment was not only aimed at addressing workers’ welfare but also at strengthening the stability of tertiary institutions and creating conditions that would allow them to effectively discharge their responsibilities.
He said a motivated workforce remained essential to the effective operation of institutions responsible for teaching, research, administration and the development of Nigeria’s human capital.
“The payment is also part of the Federal Government’s sustained efforts to address legitimate welfare concerns, promote industrial harmony and minimise disruptions to academic activities across the nation’s tertiary education system,” he said.
The announcement follows the commencement of payment of CATA to academic staff on Monday, further demonstrating the government’s efforts to meet its obligations to personnel across the tertiary education sector.
The two payments cover the January to August 2026 period and affect personnel in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Minister Promises Engagement With Unions
Alausa assured stakeholders that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to engage relevant unions, institutional authorities and other stakeholders in addressing outstanding issues affecting the sector.
He said the engagement was necessary to promote mutual understanding and foster a stable, productive and globally competitive tertiary education system.
The minister commended academic and non-academic staff, heads of institutions, unions and other stakeholders for their patience, understanding and continued cooperation with the Federal Government.
He said the ministry would sustain the implementation of policies and initiatives that prioritise staff welfare, institutional stability, human capital development and improved learning outcomes.
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Background
Staff welfare, allowances and the implementation of agreements between the Federal Government and tertiary education unions have remained recurring issues in Nigeria’s education sector, with unresolved disputes sometimes leading to industrial action and disruption of academic activities.
Against this backdrop, the Federal Government’s release of the eight-month CONTA to non-academic personnel comes as a significant component of its current efforts to address welfare obligations across federal tertiary institutions.
The latest payment follows the commencement of CATA to academic staff, bringing both categories of personnel into the government’s latest allowance disbursement covering the first eight months of 2026.
Alausa said the payments were part of broader efforts to fulfil government obligations, address legitimate welfare concerns and promote industrial harmony within the tertiary education system.
He assured that the ministry would continue discussions with unions and institutional authorities to resolve outstanding matters and strengthen stability across federal tertiary institutions.
The ministry further assured personnel and stakeholders that the Federal Government remained committed to fulfilling its obligations and sustaining reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s education system and advancing the human capital development objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
