The Bayelsa State Government has approved the implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA) for staff of its three state-owned universities.
The approval was announced by Deputy Governor Dr Peter Akpe on Friday after a meeting with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) from Niger Delta University, Bayelsa Medical University and the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, at the Government House in Yenagoa.
Akpe said the decision followed the recent approval by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, which considered the financial implications of the allowances and communicated its resolution to Governor Douye Diri.
According to him, implementing the allowances will increase the state government’s monthly wage bill for the three universities by more than N500 million.
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He added that the government would begin payment of the wage increase, amounting to about N2.25 billion, from October 2026, while outstanding 25 to 35 per cent wage award arrears would be paid next year.
The Deputy Governor urged ASUU to reconsider its ongoing indefinite strike, saying the government had taken steps to address the union’s demands and prevent further disruption of academic activities.
He said the arrears had also been captured in the state’s 2027 budget.
Akpe stated, “The Governor does not want any kind of fracas or friction with labour.”
He said the government chose dialogue and cooperation with the legislature to resolve the issues in the interest of students and to preserve its relationship with organised labour.
Responding, former ASUU Port Harcourt Zonal Coordinator, Professor Stanley Ogoun, and NDU ASUU Chairperson, Dr Oyinkepreye Bebeteidoh, commended the government for responding to the union’s demands.
Bebeteidoh said the three ASUU chapter chairpersons would immediately convene congresses to brief their members on the government’s latest offer.
She described the offer as impressive but said the union would follow due process before deciding whether to suspend the ongoing strike.
