The Federal Government has approved the immediate payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to academic staff across federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education for the period covering January to August 2026.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday shortly after inaugurating the Ministerial Committee on Accreditation.
CATA is a financial benefit designed to assist academic staff in purchasing essential tools and materials needed for teaching, research and other academic responsibilities.
The minister revealed that the payment was in accordance with the provisions of the 2025 Federal Government–Academic Staff Union of Universities agreement and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to its implementation.
According to him, payment to non-academic staff was also being processed.
“The Office of the Minister of Education is happy to announce that the full CATA payment has now been released by the Federal Government from January to August 2026 to all universities, all polytechnics and colleges of education.
“All these institutions should have received notification to start paying CATA to all academic staff. And also, the payment to non-academic staff, we’re hoping that these funds will be made available, hopefully, in the next few weeks,” the minister said.