The Federal Government has concluded plans to release ₦85.38bn for the implementation of a reviewed salary structure for academic staff of federal polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide.
The fund, covering the period from January to December 2026, is awaiting final approval from the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele.
This was disclosed in a June 16, 2026 letter by the Budget Office of the Federation, which formally requested the minister’s approval for the immediate disbursement of ₦85,375,777,808 for the exercise.
The Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, stated that the proposed expenditure would be funded from the Minimum Wage and Salary Related Adjustments component of the 2026 Service Wide Vote.
He noted that the request followed the issuance of implementation circulars by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union.
According to the document, the circulars mandate the immediate implementation of the revised remuneration package for lecturers in federal polytechnics and colleges of education with effect from January 1, 2026.
The Budget Office explained that the move aligns with earlier steps taken by the government to implement a new salary structure for university lecturers after negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
It added that while the implementation for polytechnics and colleges of education had been delayed, the issuance of the necessary directives has now cleared the way for payment.
Findings showed that the funding will cut across dozens of federal tertiary institutions under ministries such as Education, Agriculture and Food Security, Environment, Marine and Blue Economy, Water Resources and Sanitation, Science and Technology, Housing and Urban Development, and Livestock Development.
The Budget Office further revealed that it had completed the computation of the financial implications of the salary review, determining the total additional funding required for the affected institutions.
However, the government hinted at further financial commitments, noting that negotiations with non-academic staff unions in tertiary institutions are still ongoing.
“The outcome of the negotiations will surely result in additional financial obligations for the government,” the document stated.
The planned disbursement is expected to boost morale among lecturers and stabilise the academic calendar in federal polytechnics and colleges of education, which have in the past been disrupted by industrial disputes over welfare and remuneration.
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