What Bayelsa Just Approved for University Workers

What Bayelsa Just Approved for University Workers

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 covers academic and non-academic staff of Niger Delta University (NDU), Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) and the University of Africa, Toru-Orua (UAT).

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, disclosed the development on Friday during a meeting with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) representing the three institutions at the Government House in Yenagoa.

Akpe said the approval followed a resolution recently passed by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and subsequently forwarded to Governor Douye Diri for consideration.

The development comes amid ongoing efforts by governments and university unions to implement revised remuneration packages for academic and non-teaching staff.

At the federal level, CATA was introduced as part of a revised remuneration package for university lecturers, covering areas such as academic publications, conferences, internet access, learned society membership and books. The Federal Government had also released funds for five months of accumulated CATA for eligible lecturers in federal universities.

For non-teaching staff, the revised package includes the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA), alongside other reviewed allowances and benefits.

Bayelsa’s decision means workers in the state’s three universities will now benefit from the approved allowances as the government moves to strengthen staff welfare and support the smooth running of its tertiary institutions.

The move is also expected to further address concerns over staff welfare and improve industrial harmony between the state government and university-based unions.

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