by Nduka Chiejina, Abuja
The Federal Government is set to spend ₦85.38 billion on the implementation of a reviewed remuneration package for academic staff of federal polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.
This was disclosed in a letter from the Budget Office of the Federation to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele seeking his approval for the release of the funds for immediate payment of the new salary package.
According to the document signed on the 16th of June 2026, the amount required for the exercise is ₦85,375,777,808, which will cover payments from January to December 2026.
The Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, said the money would be charged to the Minimum Wage and Salary Related Adjustments component of the 2026 Service Wide Vote.
“In view of this, I most respectfully request the Honourable Minister’s kind approval for release of sum of ₦85,375,777,808,” the letter stated.
The Budget Office explained that the request followed the issuance of the necessary 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.
The circulars, according to the document, provide for the immediate implementation of the reviewed remuneration package for lecturers in federal polytechnics and colleges of education with effect from January 1, 2026.
The letter recalled that the Federal Government had earlier approved and commenced arrangements for the implementation and funding of a revised remuneration package for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities following negotiations with the union.
It added that while implementation arrangements for academic staff in polytechnics and colleges of education were pending at the time, the required directives had now been issued, paving the way for the payment process to begin.
The Budget Office said it had completed the computation of the financial implications arising from the salary review and determined the total additional funding required across the affected institutions and agencies.
The document showed that dozens of federal institutions under several ministries, including Education, Agriculture and Food Security, Environment, Marine and Blue Economy, Water Resources and Sanitation, Science and Technology, Housing and Urban Development, and Livestock Development, would benefit from the funding.
However, the government indicated that further financial obligations may arise in the tertiary education sector as discussions with non-academic staff unions have not yet been concluded.
“Negotiations between the Federal Government and the Non-Academic Staff Unions in tertiary institutions in the Federal Public Service are still ongoing,” the letter said.
It added that the outcome of the pending talks would “surely result in an additional commitment on the government.”
The request, dated June 16, 2026, was signed by Yakubu, who urged the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Mr Taiwo Oyedele to approve the release of the funds to enable immediate implementation of the remuneration package for lecturers in federal polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide.