The Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education Jacques Fame Ndongo has just announced financial commitments made this Friday to defuse the crisis in state universities.
In an official statement signed today, the Minister of State announces the effective mobilization of funds on the instructions of President Paul Biya, to settle the modernization of research and academic debt.
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To date, under the allocation for the modernization of research, an amount of 5.47 billion FCFA for the 4th quarter of 2025 has been fully transferred since July 26, 2026. The remainder of the first quarter of 2026, an amount of 1.76 billion FCFA, is paid this Friday, September 18, for a total quarter of 4.86 billion FCFA. As for the second quarter of 2026, the transfer of 4.91 billion FCFA also begins this Friday, September 18. Staff who are paid by billing have an appointment on Wednesday, September 23 at 12 p.m. at Minesup.
Aside from these movements announced within the framework of the modernization of research, the large academic debt accumulated between 2000 and 2021 has not seen a new change. Out of a total envelope of 16.95 billion FCFA, 7.29 billion have already been paid since October 3, 2025, or 43%. There remains 9.69 billion which will be paid gradually, according to the minister.
He counts on the maturity of teachers for the peaceful continuation of activities in a calm social climate. As if to say that the money is there, let the strike end. But it is up to the National Union of Higher Education Teachers – Synes – to decide to lift the strike order if the consultations this Friday have led to appeasement. Note that the teachers are demanding full payment of the academic debt. We will come back to this.