The Federal Government has begun implementing key welfare components of its renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, in a directive issued to Vice-Chancellors of federal universities on Monday, announced a 40 per cent increase in the Consolidated Academic Allowance (CAA) for ASUU members, effective from Jan. 1, 2026.

Alausa reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare of academic staff and the stability of the university system.

He said some federal universities had already reflected the increase in salary payments.

He directed all federal universities to ensure full compliance, integrating the approved increment into their payroll structures so all eligible academic staff benefit.

The Minister also stressed strict adherence to the implementation of the Consolidated Tools Allowance (CATA), noting that its payment has been captured and circularised by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and included in the 2026 budget.

He urged university management to use available resources to ensure prompt payment of CATA in line with NSIWC guidelines.

Alausa said timely implementation of both the CAA increase and CATA would strengthen the academic environment, enhance staff morale, and improve teaching, research, and learning outcomes.

He reiterated the Federal Government’s resolve to honour agreements with education stakeholders and remain committed to constructive engagement, transparency, industrial harmony, and continuous improvement of quality education in Nigeria.

(NAN)

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed concern over the Senate’s position on the transmission of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the controversy could erode public trust in the electoral process.

In a statement signed by Eze Anaba, its president, and Onuoha Ukeh, general secretary, on Monday, the Guild said it was troubled by the uncertainty generated by the Senate’s adoption of provisions in the proposed 2022 Electoral Act that allow the transmission of election results “without making it mandatory and immediate.”

According to the editors, “this development is already creating room for doubt and mistrust in the electoral process among Nigerians.”

The NGE noted that the Senate’s position runs contrary to the “widely held position of most Nigerians and many lawmakers,” adding that the backlash has “pitted citizens against the Senate and could potentially discourage voter participation in future elections.”

The Guild described the move as “a missed opportunity to strengthen transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process,” warning that it “undermines ongoing efforts to deepen democratic governance and ensure credible elections.”

Citing global best practices, the Guild stated that “mandatory electronic transmission of election results has become a standard for improving electoral credibility and efficiency,” stressing that “Nigeria should not be an exception.” It urged the National Assembly, as it reconvenes to harmonise positions with the House of Representatives, to approve “mandatory and immediate transmission of election results from polling units to the INEC central server and collation centres.”

The editors argued that digitalisation anchored on real-time transmission would “enhance transparency, efficiency, accuracy, and voter confidence,” while also helping to “reduce disputes, minimise controversies, and significantly curb electoral fraud.”

They cautioned that “anything short of this will be out of step with contemporary and progressive electoral practices,” adding that mandatory and immediate transmission “will not only enhance free and fair elections but also give Nigerians the confidence that their votes will truly count.”

Senator representing Bauchi Central at the National Assembly, Abdul Ningi, on Monday said the Senate could make the adoption of the votes and proceedings on the electronic transmission of election results public amid ongoing controversy over the issue.

Ningi stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today ahead of the upper chamber’s emergency plenary session scheduled for Tuesday, following ongoing debates over the e-transmission of election results after the Electoral Act amendment bill passed the third reading at the Senate.

Asked during the interview whether it was possible for the voting process at the Senate to be made public so that Nigerians could know which senator voted for or against the real-time transmission of election results, Ningi said, “I think it’s possible. It depends on the presiding officer because the law provides that.

“You can stand up and say, ‘I, Ningi, I accept e-transmission in real time.’ I sit down. It’s recorded every other senator, and that is the only way we need to move forward.”

“One thing that is very important is that the votes and proceedings have not been captured. So tomorrow, we need to look at what the votes and proceedings captured are. Is it a transfer?

“There was a motion for amendment by Manguno, and then the question was put. Who asked the question? Why was the question raised?

“Was it discussed? It is important that when you bring a motion on something that you have no idea of, one of the reasons why maybe people are not so happy is that the Senate President should have asked us as a committee, ‘Please, educate us on this issue that this Moguna has raised,” the Bauchi lawmaker added.

Ningi stated that the issue was not about one political party or the other.

“I’m here, and I’m telling you with all sense of responsibility that this is not a party thing. It has never been seen as a party thing up to the moment we went into the committee of the whole.

“If tomorrow the Senate President decides to say, ‘Is it transfer or transmission, and the gavel was sealed on transfer. They (the majority) have their way,” he said.

The federal lawmaker also expressed displeasure over what he described as the condemnation of the Senate “in its entirety” over the matter.

“I feel so sad and outraged myself when I see the condemnation across this country condemning the Senate in its entirety. And that’s why for us, we need to tell the story.

“And I can tell you 98 per cent of the senators are in agreement with the submission made by the House. I don’t know how they are trying to make it a party affair. I don’t think so.

“As I told you, APC governors have presented their submission, PDP…, and they are all saying e-transmission,” Ningi stated on the programme.