The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has urged Vice-Chancellors of federal universities to ensure timely payment of eligible staff entitlements under the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTA) and Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

Alausa made the call during a meeting with vice-chancellors, expressing concern about ongoing payment delays despite government intervention to address funding challenges.

According to a statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, on Sunday, the minister said the Federal Government had engaged relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Finance, to facilitate the settlement of outstanding arrears, which had reportedly been paid up to September.

He said some universities made payments in January but later faced financial constraints as their available reserves declined.

The minister, however, urged university managements to work with relevant authorities to resolve outstanding cases and ensure that eligible employees receive their entitlements.

He explained that personnel allocations were based on approved wage bills and disbursed monthly, adding that changes in staff strength resulting from retirements, attrition and other circumstances could affect actual personnel expenditure.

Alausa stressed that funds allocated for personnel costs must be used for their approved purposes, urging university management to uphold transparency, prudent financial management and accountability in the use of public funds.

“It is not right. It is not acceptable,” he said, emphasising that workers should not be denied their legitimate entitlements because of avoidable administrative delays or poor financial management.

The minister reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to workers’ welfare and said the Ministry of Education would continue engaging university authorities to resolve outstanding payment issues in line with applicable laws and regulations.

On university autonomy, Alausa said the Federal Government remained committed to allowing institutions to manage their internal affairs within the framework of existing laws.

He urged vice-chancellors to uphold transparency and accountability in appointments, recruitment and administration, adding that autonomy must be matched by responsible leadership and efforts to improve teaching, learning and institutional management.

The minister also called on university administrators to prioritise staff welfare and sustain constructive engagement with the Federal Government to promote industrial harmony and minimise disruptions to academic activities.

He said the government would continue working with stakeholders to strengthen the higher education system, with an emphasis on staff welfare, institutional accountability, university autonomy and quality education. (The Nation)