Budgetary allocations for personnel in several federal universities have risen significantly after the Federal Government approved a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff, along with new and enhanced allowance packages.

An analysis of the Federal Government’s 2026 budget estimates shows that personnel costs for the top 20 federal universities increased from N438.85 billion in 2025 to N533.1 billion in 2026, marking a rise of N94.25 billion, or roughly 22 per cent, within a single fiscal year.

This development follows the recent agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which ended a 16-year deadlock over the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement. The deal is expected to enhance welfare, ensure stable funding, and promote industrial harmony in Nigeria’s university system.

As part of the agreement, lecturers in federal institutions will now receive a 40 per cent salary increase. A new professorial cadre allowance has also been introduced, granting university professors a monthly top-up of over N140,000.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, confirmed that funding has been secured to support the enhanced remuneration package. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, he explained that the allocation covers both salary adjustments and restructured academic allowances.

“A professor will now receive a monthly top-up of over N140,000, as President Tinubu has approved the new professorial cadre allowance for academic staff. We also have funding in place to support the 40 per cent salary increase for all lecturers, along with nine restructured Earned Academic Allowances, which are now properly defined,” Alausa said.

In the 2026 budget, the Federal Government allocated N3.52 trillion to education, representing 6.1 per cent of the N58.18 trillion national budget. Breakdown of the allocation includes N113.764 billion for major targeted education interventions, N42 billion for the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, and N35 billion to address the out-of-school children crisis. Additional provisions include N28 billion for security infrastructure in the 118 Federal Unity Colleges and N5.2 billion for the upkeep of 1,532 Nigerian students studying abroad under the Bilateral Education Programme.

In Nigeria’s federal budgeting system, personnel costs—also referred to as personnel emoluments—form a major part of recurrent expenditure for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Education. These costs cover salaries, allowances, pensions, gratuities, and related expenses, and are managed through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, which verifies staff records, eliminates ghost workers, and ensures timely payment.

Although the detailed recurrent and capital expenditure components of the education vote are yet to be fully disclosed, the Ministry of Education’s 2026 budget indicates a marked increase in personnel costs across leading federal universities.

Institutions included in the review are the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, University of Jos, University of Calabar, University of Ilorin, and the University of Abuja. Others are the University of Port Harcourt, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Modibbo Adama University, University of Uyo, University of Maiduguri, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Bayero University, and Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.

Among these, the University of Ibadan recorded the largest increase, with personnel costs rising from N25.13 billion in 2025 to N37.52 billion in 2026—a jump of about N12.4 billion. Ahmadu Bello University followed, with an increase from N34 billion to N44.5 billion, representing roughly 31 per cent growth.

Other universities also saw notable increases: University of Lagos (N1.32 billion), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (N6 billion), Obafemi Awolowo University (N2.2 billion), University of Benin (N3.16 billion), University of Jos (N9.2 billion), University of Calabar (N5.5 billion), University of Ilorin (N5.26 billion), University of Abuja (N3.5 billion), and University of Port Harcourt (N2.3 billion). Additional adjustments include Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (N4.87 billion), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (N5.24 billion), Federal University of Technology, Akure (N1.5 billion), Modibbo Adama University (N720 million), University of Uyo (N211 million), University of Maiduguri (N6.2 billion), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (N6 billion), Bayero University (N4.6 billion), and Usman Dan Fodio University (N3.47 billion).

The Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, was contacted for further clarification on the increased personnel allocations but had not responded as of press time.