FIC Report (Bayelsa State) – The Bayelsa State Government has approved the implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA) for academic and non-academic staff of its three State-owned Universities.
The approval is expected to result in an additional monthly expenditure of over ₦500 million by the state government across the Niger Delta University (NDU), the Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) and the University of Africa, Toru-Orua (UAT).
The Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, disclosed this on Friday during a resumed meeting with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) from the three institutions at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, Dr Akpe said the decision followed a resolution recently passed by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and subsequently communicated to Governor Douye Diri for consideration and approval.
He explained that the implementation of the new allowance structure would significantly increase the government’s monthly financial commitment to the state-owned universities, but stressed that the administration was prepared to bear the cost in order to improve Staff Welfare and sustain industrial harmony in the education sector.
According to the Deputy Governor, the state government will commence payment of the wage increase, estimated at about ₦2.25 billion, from October 2026, while the outstanding arrears arising from the 25 to 35 per cent wage award will be paid in 2027.
He further assured the union that the payment of the outstanding arrears had already been captured in the proposed 2027 budget, demonstrating the government’s commitment to fully implementing the agreements reached with the university lecturers.
Dr Akpe said the Governor Douye Diri-led Prosperity Administration had remained labour-friendly and was determined to prevent avoidable industrial disputes and disruptions of academic activities in the state’s tertiary institutions.
He noted that the executive and legislative arms of government had worked collaboratively to address the concerns raised by ASUU, adding that the intervention was aimed at resolving most, if not all, of the union’s outstanding demands.
The Deputy Governor consequently appealed to ASUU to call off its ongoing indefinite strike in the interest of students, parents and the continued stability of academic activities in the three universities.
He said: “His Excellency, the Governor does not want any kind of fracas or friction with labour. So, he has graciously approved, even though we saw some strong elements of intimidation from the ASUU end.
“We decided not to toe that path in the interest of our children and the good relationship we have maintained with labour over the years as a government.
“We wrote to the Assembly because of the huge amount involved in the implementation. They approved the payment on the proposed dates and also added the arrears in the 2027 budget.
“This is the position of government, and I believe that with the short discussion we have had here today, we have met most, if not all, of your demands. And so, let us now allow normalcy to return to our universities.”
In their separate remarks, the immediate past Zonal Coordinator of the ASUU Port Harcourt Zone, Prof. Stanley Ogoun, and the Chairperson of the ASUU NDU Chapter, Dr Oyinkepreye Bebeteidoh, commended the Bayelsa State Government for its efforts towards addressing the union’s demands.
Speaking with Government House correspondents shortly after the meeting, Dr Bebeteidoh said the government’s latest position was impressive and represented a significant step towards resolving the issues that led to the ongoing industrial action.
She disclosed that the chairpersons of the three ASUU branches had agreed to immediately convene their respective congresses to brief members on the outcome of the meeting and the commitments made by the state government.
The NDU ASUU chairperson, who spoke alongside her counterparts at the Bayelsa Medical University, Dr Sylva Ligeiaziba, and the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Dr Sunny Abeki, however, said the union would follow due process in taking a decision on the suspension or call-off of the indefinite strike.
The development is expected to strengthen ongoing efforts to restore normal academic activities across Bayelsa’s state-owned universities and reinforce the cordial relationship between the Diri administration and organised labour in the State.
Ighovojah Gloria Afure
Principal Information Officer
FIC Yenagoa , Bayelsa
21 August 2026
