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…insists varsity autonomy must come with accountability
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has warned vice chancellors of federal universities against withholding or misapplying funds allocated for staff entitlements, insisting that university autonomy must be matched by transparency, accountability and responsible leadership.
Alausa, who expressed displeasure over reports of continued delays in the payment of eligible university workers despite Federal Government interventions to address funding challenges, urged university managements to ensure that affected employees receive their legitimate entitlements without further delay.
He specifically called for the timely payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTA) and entitlements under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
The minister spoke during a meeting with vice chancellors, where he emphasised the need for university authorities to fulfil their obligations to staff and ensure that public funds allocated for personnel costs were applied strictly to their approved purposes.
In a statement signed by Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister, on Sunday, Alausa reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to workers’ welfare and the strengthening of Nigeria’s university system.
According to the statement, the Federal Government had engaged relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Finance, to address funding challenges and facilitate the settlement of outstanding arrears.
The minister explained that some universities made payments in January but subsequently encountered financial constraints as their available reserves declined. “But government intervention helped resolve outstanding funding issues, with arrears reportedly paid up to September,” he said.
He, however, expressed concern that some eligible staff were still experiencing delays in receiving their entitlements despite the interventions.
“It is not right. It is not acceptable,” Alausa said, stressing that university workers should not be denied their legitimate entitlements because of avoidable administrative delays or poor financial management.
He explained that personnel allocations were based on approved wage bills and disbursed monthly, while changes in staff strength arising from retirements, attrition and other circumstances could affect actual personnel expenditure.
Alausa consequently urged vice chancellors to work with relevant authorities to resolve outstanding payment cases, ensure that personnel funds were properly utilised and demonstrate transparency in managing public resources.
He warned that the administration of public funds must be guided by accountability and applicable laws and regulations, adding that the Ministry of Education would continue engaging university authorities to address unresolved payment issues.
On university autonomy, the minister reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to allowing universities to manage their internal affairs within the framework of existing laws and regulations.
He, however, stressed that autonomy must not be separated from accountability, urging vice chancellors to uphold transparency and integrity in institutional appointments, recruitment and administration.
According to him, university autonomy comes with the responsibility to promote sound governance, improve teaching and learning, strengthen institutional administration and expand educational opportunities for Nigerian students.
He called on university heads to sustain constructive engagement with the Federal Government, prioritise staff welfare and promote industrial harmony to prevent avoidable disruptions to academic activities.
Alausa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the higher education system through continued engagement with stakeholders, with particular emphasis on workers’ welfare, institutional accountability, university autonomy and quality education delivery.
