The Federal Government has announced that professors in Nigerian universities will receive an additional ₦140,000 monthly allowance following a landmark agreement signed with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
According to the minister, the allowance targets academics in the professorial cadre. 
“This allowance is for professors. As long as you’re a full-time professor or you’re a reader, you’ll get that additional top-up,” Alausa explained.
He further broke down the payment structure, stating that while professors will receive approximately ₦140,000 monthly, readers will get about ₦70,000 as additional allowance each month.
The agreement, unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja, replaces the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement and includes a 40 per cent salary review for university teaching staff alongside the introduction of the professorial cadre allowance.
Alausa emphasized that the benefit applies exclusively to full-time academics. 
“Let me emphasize clearly that these allowances apply strictly to full time and not part time professors and readers,” he stated during the signing ceremony.
The minister described the approval as recognition of the workload carried by senior academics. 
“This approval recognises the significant workload, administrative, scholarly and research responsibilities borne by academics at this level by the virtue of their profession and positions as professors or readers in our universities,” he said.
Addressing concerns about sustainability, Alausa assured that the government has secured funding for the initiative. 
“When the president was convinced that he had the funding, he signed off. Today we have the funding to support the 40% salary increase that we’ve given our lecturers in all our tertiary institutions,” he noted.
The agreement also covers enhanced academic allowances, nine in total, with clear delineation of payment responsibilities between universities and the federal government.

Sen. Sunday Karimi has assured that the National Assembly will enact laws enforcing the Supreme Court ruling on local government financial autonomy, backing President Bola Tinubu’s position.

Karimi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, spoke to constituents during the yuletide break in Kogi West Senatorial District.

He recalled the Supreme Court’s July 25, 2024 judgment directing seamless federal allocation of funds to Nigeria’s 774 local government councils.

The senator criticised governors flouting the ruling, describing such actions as “unconstitutional” and contrary to efforts at “strengthening grassroots democracy”.

He warned that defaulting governors could face prosecution and punishment as the National Assembly prioritises enforcement of the judgment.

According to him, parliament will pass relevant laws to compel strict compliance with fiscal autonomy for the third tier of government.

Karimi quoted the judgment as declaring governors’ control of local government funds unconstitutional and voiding caretaker committees as illegal.

He said the ruling was intended to “strengthen grassroots democracy and governance by ensuring allocations go directly to elected officials without state interference”.

The senator observed that the ruling also aimed to improve service delivery at the critical local government level.

In spite of the clarity of the judgment, Karimi noted that some states continue to disregard and disrespect the Supreme Court.

He recalled that President Tinubu warned APC leaders that he may issue an executive order if governors persist in defying the ruling.

Karimi said the President had shown restraint, despite possessing constitutional powers to compel compliance.

“The National Assembly will back the President with laws, some retroactively effective, to address non-adherence,” he said.

He accused some governors of “kleptomania and squandermania”, vowing that offenders would be prosecuted, compelled to make refunds, and punished.

Karimi said trillions of naira meant for Nigerians had been pilfered by “gluttonous governors”.

“There is consensus that this administration released unprecedented funds, yet many citizens feel little impact,” he added.

He cited the Chief of Defence Staff, who linked insecurity to non-functioning local governments creating ungoverned spaces.

“Some governors and their cabals treat local government funds as their monthly ‘dessert’,” Karimi alleged.

He said this practice has rendered councils dysfunctional and unable to deliver basic services.

Karimi further alleged that some states steal local government allocations through voucher racketeering schemes after funds reach council accounts.(NAN)

THERE was jubilations, Joy and Praises across the twenty wards of Ukwa Federal Constituency in Abia state during the Christmas as the member representing them in the House of Representatives, Hon Chris Nkwonta doled out over N25 million and 2000 bags of rice to the people for the celebration of the season.

The celebration was massive as women, men, youths and children from Ukwa East and Ukwa West Local Government Areas sang, danced and showered praises on Hon. Chris Nkwonta describing his generosity as second to none and the first of it’s kind by any political office holder since the inception of the present political dispensation.

Hon. Nkwonta who was physically present in all the wards was received by thousands of people irrespective of their political affiliations. Hon Nkwonta extended the gesture to all including stakeholders, traditional rulers, the clergy as well as civil and public servants.

The grand finale and the climax of Hon Nkwonta’s tour of the twenty wards was yesterday at Akwete Ndoki of Ukwa East Local Government Area of the state which was turned into a cannival as the people danced, rejoiced thanking God and their son who God has used enormously to be a blessing to the people.

Hon Nkwonta throughout his message during the tour emphasised that the occasion was not for campaign but an opportunity to relate and celebrate the Christmas with his people and in his own way of contributing in making the season a joyous one for his constituents.

Hon Nkwonta told the people that the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ calls for love, peace, unity and oneness among the people assuring that as their representative that his primary assignment is to deliver every material aimed at bringing joy and happiness to the people.

He charged the people to continue to show love to one another, live in peace assuring that he will continue to use the opportunity given to him by the people of the constituency to improve and impact positively on them.

Many stakeholders who spoke during the tour extolled the leadership qualities of Hon. Nkwonta describing him as a representative with the heart of gold, milk of kindness, love and humility which has endeared him both to the grassroots and all strata of the society.

They prayed to God for good health, strength and wisdom as he continues to be a blessing to the people and his generation.

They all acknowledged that the gesture from Hon.Nkwonta was unique and first of it’s kind since the inception of the present political dispensation where people are remembered during the season and the representative physically moves across all the wards to felicitate with his people.