The Federal Government has approved reviewed remuneration packages for academic staff of federal polytechnics and colleges of education, with new earned academic allowances and welfare benefits taking effect from Jan. 1, 2026.
The approval was conveyed through separate circulars issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) following agreements reached with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) on April 8, 2026.
The circulars, signed by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Mr Ekpo Nta, outlined the implementation of Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) for lecturers in the two categories of federal tertiary institutions.
The commission stated that the CATA covers journal and publication support, learned society subscriptions, conference attendance, internet access and book allowances.
It explained that the EAA would be paid only when the specific academic duties are performed.
For academic staff in federal polytechnics, the reviewed package provides honoraria of N84,000 for external examination, moderation, teaching practice and industrial attachment duties involving up to 50 candidates, while assignments involving more than 50 candidates will attract N112,000.
Principal lecturers and chief lecturers conducting external assessments are to receive N200,000 per assessment.
Similarly, responsibility allowances approved for polytechnic administrators include N588,000 annually for deputy rectors and librarians, N420,000 for deans and directors, N336,000 for vice deans and deputy directors, N210,000 for heads of departments and N105,000 for heads of units and hall wardens.
Polytechnic lecturers handling excess workloads will receive N3,500 per hour for principal lecturers, chief lecturers and senior lecturers, while Lecturer I and other categories will receive N2,000 per hour.
The package also provides postgraduate study book grants of N450,000 for science-based master’s programmes, N600,000 for science-based doctoral programmes, N350,000 for non-science master’s programmes and N500,000 for non-science doctoral studies.
Under the colleges of education package, lecturers are entitled to largely similar rates and benefits.
Senior lecturers, principal lecturers and chief lecturers serving as external examiners, moderators or teaching practice supervisors will equally receive N84,000 for assignments involving up to 50 candidates and N112,000 for those exceeding 50 candidates.
External assessments for principal and chief lecturers will also attract N200,000 per assessment.
The responsibility allowance structure for colleges of education mirrors that of the polytechnics, with deputy provosts and librarians receiving N588,000 annually, deans and directors N420,000, vice deans and deputy directors N336,000, heads of departments N210,000 and heads of units or hall wardens N105,000.
Likewise, excess workload allowances remain N3,500 per hour for principal lecturers, chief lecturers and senior lecturers, and N2,000 per hour for Lecturer I and other categories.
Postgraduate study grants under the colleges of education package are identical to those approved for polytechnic lecturers.
However, the commission highlighted a key difference in examination moderation allowances.
While the polytechnic package applies to moderation of Degree, Higher National Diploma (HND) and National Diploma (ND) programmes, the colleges of education package covers moderation of Degree and Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes.
Another distinction is in the implementation guidelines for certain responsibility allowances, with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) expected to issue guidelines for polytechnics, while the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) will provide corresponding guidelines for colleges of education.
The commission also maintained that project supervision would no longer attract separate remuneration in either category, describing it as part of the statutory duties of academic staff.
Stakeholders say the reviewed remuneration packages are expected to improve staff welfare, enhance productivity and strengthen teaching and research across federal tertiary institutions.
The new allowances take effect retrospectively from Jan. 1, 2026.
