BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
Budgetary allocations for personnel costs in federal universities have risen significantly following the Federal Government’s approval of a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff and the introduction of new and enhanced allowance packages.
An analysis of the Federal Government’s 2026 budget estimates shows that personnel cost allocations to the top 20 federal universities increased from N438.85bn in 2025 to N533.1bn in 2026, representing a rise of N94.25bn, or about 22 per cent within one fiscal year.
The increase follows the recent agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which ended a 16-year stalemate over the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement.
Under the agreement, lecturers across federal institutions will enjoy a 40 per cent salary increase, while professors will receive a newly introduced professorial cadre allowance, amounting to a monthly top-up of over N140,000.
Govt Confirms Funding
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said adequate funding had been provided to implement the enhanced remuneration structure.
Speaking to newsmen on Thursday, Alausa said the allocations cover both salary adjustments and the restructuring of academic allowances.
“A professor will now receive a monthly top-up of over N140,000, as President Bola Tinubu has approved a new category of allowance for academic staff known as the professorial cadre allowance,” he said.
“Today, we have the funding to support the 40 per cent salary increase granted to lecturers across all institutions, as well as the nine enhanced Earned Academic Allowances, which are now properly structured.”
He added that the new agreement clearly defines the allowance framework, addressing long-standing concerns raised by the lecturers’ union.
Education Gets N3.52tn
In the 2026 Appropriation Bill, the Federal Government allocated N3.52tn to education, representing 6.1 per cent of the N58.18tn national budget.
A breakdown of the education vote shows:
- N113.764bn for targeted education interventions
- N42bn for the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme
- N35bn to address the out-of-school children crisis
- N28bn for security infrastructure in 118 Federal Unity Colleges
- N5.2bn for Nigerian students under the Bilateral Education Programme
Personnel costs—covering salaries, allowances, pensions, and gratuities—form a major component of recurrent expenditure and are managed through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
Universities Record Sharp Increases
Data from the Budget Office shows marked increases in personnel allocations across major federal universities, including the University of Ibadan (UI), University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Benin, University of Jos, University of Ilorin, and the University of Abuja.
The University of Ibadan recorded the highest increase, with personnel costs rising from N25.13bn in 2025 to N37.52bn in 2026, an increase of N12.4bn.
Ahmadu Bello University followed, with its allocation increasing from N34bn to N44.5bn, representing a N10.5bn rise, or about 31 per cent.
Other notable increases include:
- UNILAG – N1.32bn
- UNN – N6bn
- OAU – N2.2bn
- UNIBEN – N3.16bn
- UNIJOS – N9.2bn
- UNICAL – N5.5bn
- UNILORIN – N5.26bn
- UNIABUJA – N3.5bn
- UNIPORT – N2.3bn
Further adjustments were recorded for:
- ATBU – N4.87bn
- FUTO, Owerri – N5.24bn
- FUTA – N1.5bn
- Modibbo Adama University – N720m
- UNIUYO – N211m
- UNIMAID – N6.2bn
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University – N6bn
- Bayero University – N4.6bn
- Usman Dan Fodio University – N3.47bn
When contacted for clarification, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, said she would respond, but had not done so as of press time.
ADVERTISEMENTS
