The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed public universities across Nigeria to begin funding lecturers’ allowances through internally generated revenue (IGR), a development that may lead to fresh increases in tuition and other charges across tertiary institutions.

This was revealed in an internal memo from Modibbo Adama University obtained by SaharaReporters, indicating that the Federal Ministry of Education instructed vice-chancellors to source funds internally for the payment of the Consequential Adjustment and Transport Allowance (CATA) for academic staff.

According to the memo dated May 18, 2026, and signed by the university’s bursar, Hanien N. Ayuka, the institution had already been paying the allowance from its internally generated revenue since January 2026.

However, the university stated that it could no longer sustain the payments due to the absence of financial support from the Federal Government.

The memo announced the immediate suspension of the allowance, citing worsening financial pressures on the institution.

“Consequently, the University is unable to sustain the continued payment of the CATA allowance and will henceforth suspend the payment until the Federal Government of Nigeria sends the necessary cash backing. The suspension takes effect this May 2026,” the statement read.

Copies of the memo were reportedly forwarded to the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellors, Provost, Registrar, Internal Auditor, University Librarian, Deans, Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the Head of Payroll.

A lecturer at the university, who spoke anonymously, said the directive from the Federal Government has placed many public universities under severe financial strain.

The lecturer warned that university managements across the country are now considering increases in tuition fees and service charges as a survival strategy, raising concerns about the growing cost of higher education in Nigeria.