Tinubu Releases ₦50 Billion To ASUU And Federal University Staff For Earned Allowances In 2025

In a significant move to address long-standing grievances in Nigeria’s education sector, the Federal Government has authorized the release of ₦50 billion to settle outstanding earned allowances owed to both academic and non-academic staff in federal universities.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, made the announcement through a statement released by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, on Wednesday. This financial commitment is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader agenda to reform the nation’s educational landscape.

According to the statement, the fund release “demonstrates President Tinubu’s unwavering dedication to repositioning Nigeria’s education system. It signifies a bold step toward transitioning from a resource-dependent economy to one that prioritizes knowledge, innovation, and skilled human capital.”

Dr. Alausa emphasized the deeper impact of the intervention, stating, “This is not merely a fiscal allocation. It reaffirms the administration’s belief in Nigerian students and underscores the critical role of university staff in shaping future leaders. Our priority is to ensure uninterrupted learning. We are working to end the cycle of strikes in tertiary institutions permanently.”

University unions, particularly the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), have frequently clashed with past administrations over unpaid entitlements and funding issues. This intervention is a significant step toward resolving these long-standing disputes.

The 2025 national budget includes a substantial ₦3.52 trillion allocation for education, accounting for 7.3% of the total ₦54.99 trillion budget—an increase seen as a strategic push toward revamping Nigeria’s educational infrastructure and workforce.

Internal Development

This announcement comes as part of a wave of recent education-focused initiatives. Earlier this month, the government also reaffirmed its dedication to revamping tertiary institutions through increased budgetary allocations and infrastructure improvement programs. (Read more on our Education Reform in Nigeria blog post.)