President Bola Tinubu has removed the requirement for Nigeria’s federal universities to obtain recruitment waivers from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
This reform is aimed at strengthening institutional autonomy and enabling universities to recruit staff more efficiently.
Tinubu announced the reform at the maiden convocation of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), where 50 pioneer graduates received their degrees.
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Represented by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Executive Secretary Sonny Echono, he said the change was reflected in recent agreements with university staff unions.
The President said the government was also working to improve personnel and payroll administration across tertiary institutions by migrating staff from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
He said the measures were intended to strengthen university autonomy and create a more enabling environment for teaching, research, innovation and service delivery.
Funding
Tinubu said the Federal Government had provided FUHSA with an initial ₦8 billion intervention through TETFund to support its establishment, following healthcare system gaps exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional funding would support infrastructure, including roads, lecture halls and laboratories, through TETFund’s regular and special interventions and allocations in the 2026 national budget.
He also disclosed that the government had allocated ₦10 billion to the National Research Fund for 2026, urging universities to pursue research addressing Nigeria’s healthcare challenges.
The investment comes as countries seek to strengthen healthcare systems, develop skilled medical workforces and expand research capacity following lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staff Welfare and Student Financing
On staff welfare, Tinubu said agreements had been signed with academic and non-academic unions for payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA), effective January 1, 2026.
He said the agreements recognised the complementary roles of teaching and non-teaching personnel in delivering quality education and supporting national development.
The President also disclosed that 1,798 FUHSA students, representing 43 per cent of the institution’s student population, had secured support from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for the 2025/2026 academic session.
International Academic Partnerships
Congratulating FUHSA’s pioneer graduates, Tinubu urged them to apply their knowledge and skills to improving healthcare delivery, particularly for vulnerable Nigerians.
He also encouraged the university to strengthen its partnerships with international institutions, including the University of Miami, Boston University and Universiti Sains Malaysia.
He said the collaborations should produce measurable improvements in teaching, research and healthcare delivery, areas central to strengthening medical education and health services in Nigeria.
