The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has called on the Federal Government to ensure that the recently released N50 billion Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) for federal universities is distributed based on individual academic contributions rather than union affiliations.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Education, CONUA’s National President, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, expressed concerns over the misinterpretation and misapplication of the EAA, which he believes is being allocated based on union membership instead of actual academic productivity.
He stated that the EAA was designed to reward work done, not to serve as a tool for preferential treatment based on union membership.
According to Dr Sunmonu, the current approach, where some unions and possibly university administrators allocate funds based on union affiliation, violates the original intent of the EAA and threatens harmony and fairness across Nigerian university campuses.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Education to review and clarify the criteria for EAA disbursement to ensure it is strictly merit-based and to investigate and rectify any instances of bias or exclusion.
The federal government announced the release of the N50 billion EAA fund to academic and non-academic staff unions of federal universities to settle outstanding allowances and improve the welfare of university staff.
However, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has denied receiving the funds, stating that they have not received any official communication from the government regarding the release.
CONUA, which was officially registered as a union in January 2023, has been advocating for equitable treatment of its members, including the payment of withheld salaries and allowances. Dr Sunmonu reiterated CONUA’s commitment to dialogue, equity, and progress and expressed a willingness to collaborate with the government and all stakeholders to ensure that policies like the EAA achieve their intended objectives.
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