The Federal Government is set to release over ₦85 billion for the implementation of a reviewed salary package for academic staff in federal polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.
The development follows a request by the Budget Office of the Federation for the approval and release of ₦85.38 billion to cover the new remuneration package from January to December 2026.
According to a document dated June 16, 2026, and addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, the funds will be drawn from the 2026 Service Wide Vote under the provision for minimum wage and salary-related adjustments.
The Director-General of the Budget Office, Dr Tanimu Yakubu, said the amount represents the financial implication of implementing the revised salary structure for members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).
The move follows the issuance of implementation circulars by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, which approved the new remuneration package for lecturers in federal polytechnics and colleges of education with effect from January 1, 2026.
The Budget Office noted that the government had earlier approved a revised salary package for university lecturers after negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). However, implementation for lecturers in polytechnics and colleges of education was delayed pending the release of the necessary directives.
With the required approvals now in place, the government said it has completed the computation of the financial implications and determined the amount required for implementation across the affected institutions.
The salary adjustment is expected to benefit lecturers in federal institutions under several ministries, including Education, Agriculture and Food Security, Science and Technology, Environment, Water Resources and Sanitation, Marine and Blue Economy, Housing and Urban Development, and Livestock Development.
The government, however, indicated that additional financial commitments may arise as negotiations with non-academic staff unions in tertiary institutions are still ongoing.
According to the Budget Office, the outcome of those discussions could result in further salary-related obligations for the Federal Government.
If approved, the release of the funds will pave the way for the immediate implementation of the revised salary package for lecturers in federal polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide.
