The Delta State government has approved a new salary structure for academic staff of the four state-owned universities, effective from August 2026. This move is expected to boost the morale and welfare of lecturers in the institutions. The four universities - University of Delta Agbor, Dennis Osadebay University Asaba, Southern Delta University Ozoro, and one other - have been accredited to offer professional courses, including medicine, law, nursing, and accounting.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori made this announcement on Tuesday in Asaba while swearing-in the new Auditor-General of the State, Mr Emasogbe Matthew Oghene, and inaugurating the governing councils of the three universities. The governor expressed his delight that the academic calendar of the universities had remained unaltered for 17 years, without any disruptions from industrial actions or student unrest. This, he said, was a testament to the state government's commitment to stable academic activities.
The governor noted that enrolment figures in the universities had risen significantly, from about 50,000 in 2023 to over 100,000 in 2026. He attributed this growth to the government's efforts to reposition the state-owned universities as centres of excellence. The governor charged the newly inaugurated councils to pursue policies that would strengthen corporate governance, improve institutional efficiency, and position the universities for sustainable growth.
The governor emphasized that the councils must ensure regular meetings, collective responsibility, transparency, and accountability in the management of the universities. He also tasked them with maintaining zero tolerance for sexual harassment, examination malpractice, cultism, favouritism, and corruption. The governor urged the councils to apply disciplinary measures whenever rules were breached, to ensure that the universities operated within the bounds of their enabling laws.
In his address, the governor noted that it was unrealistic for universities to rely solely on government funding. He urged the university councils to devote substantial time and resources to marketing their institutions and attracting private-sector investments. The governor also announced that his administration had continued to invest heavily in infrastructure and staff welfare, including the construction of two hostels for each of the nine state-owned tertiary institutions.
Each of the hostels is designed to accommodate 480 students, bringing significant relief to students in terms of accommodation. The governor charged the councils to sustain the tempo of development recorded by the universities and make the institutions more competitive nationally and internationally. He expressed his administration's commitment to supporting tertiary education within the limits of available resources.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Dennis Osadebay University, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, thanked the governor for the appointments and promised that the councils would work diligently to achieve the goals set by the governor.
Key points
- The Delta State government has approved a new salary structure for academic staff of the four state-owned universities, effective from August 2026.
- The governor emphasized the need for the university councils to pursue policies that would strengthen corporate governance and improve institutional efficiency.
- The state government has invested heavily in infrastructure and staff welfare, including the construction of new hostels for students in the nine state-owned tertiary institutions.
