The Federal Government has approved ₦2.3 billion to clear outstanding arrears owed to lecturers in public universities across Nigeria.
The payment comes as part of ongoing efforts to address long-standing financial obligations to academic staff.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Education, the fund is intended to settle unpaid salaries, allowances, and other entitlements accrued over previous years.
Officials described the disbursement as a necessary step toward stabilizing the tertiary education sector and restoring confidence among academic personnel.
The arrears have been a source of repeated industrial actions and strikes, with university staff unions citing delayed payments as a key factor affecting teaching and research.
The release of this sum is expected to ease financial pressures on lecturers and improve morale in federal institutions.
While the move has been welcomed by staff associations, experts warn that it addresses only part of the accumulated obligations. Continuous monitoring and timely payments, they say, are essential to prevent further disruptions in the academic calendar.
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The Ministry of Education emphasized that the release aligns with its commitment to ensuring that public universities function smoothly and that staff welfare remains a priority.
