On Tuesday, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State announced the approval of a new salary structure for the academic and non-academic staff of the four state-owned universities and other tertiary institutions in the state. This announcement was made during the inauguration of the Auditor-General of the state, Mr. Matthew Oghene, and the Governing Councils of the Universities of Delta, Agbor; Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; and Southern Delta University, Ozoro.
The new salary structure will take effect from August for academic staff, while non-academic staff and other tertiary institutions will receive the new salary from September. The governor also noted that the four universities now offer professional courses, including medicine, law, nursing, and accounting. This development is a significant milestone in the state's education sector.
According to Governor Oborevwori, student enrollment in the universities has risen significantly, from 50,000 in 2023 to over 100,000 in 2026. He attributed this growth to the state's commitment to stable academic activities, which has ensured that the academic calendar of the universities has not been disrupted by staff strikes or student unrest in 17 years.
The governor described Delta State as an emerging education hub in Nigeria, emphasizing his administration's commitment to repositioning the state-owned universities as centers of excellence. He charged the new councils to pursue policies that would strengthen corporate governance, improve institutional efficiency, and position the universities for sustainable growth.
Governor Oborevwori urged the councils to ensure regular meetings, collective responsibility, transparency, and accountability. He also warned against nepotism and parochial sentiment, emphasizing the need for the highest level of integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities. The governor tasked the councils with tackling issues such as sexual harassment, examination malpractice, and cultism in the universities.
The governor assured that the State Government would continue to support tertiary education within the limits of available resources. However, he noted that it is unrealistic for a university to rely solely on government funding. He encouraged the councils to devote substantial time and resources to marketing their institutions and attracting private-sector investments.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, Muoboghare, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Dennis Osadebay University, thanked the governor for the appointment. He called for the establishment of a Higher Education Endowment Fund to provide sustainable funding for tertiary institutions and enable them to compete globally.
Key points
- The new salary structure for Delta State universities and other tertiary institutions will take effect from August for academic staff and September for non-academic staff.
- Student enrollment in Delta State universities has risen from 50,000 in 2023 to over 100,000 in 2026.
- The governor has charged the new councils to pursue policies that strengthen corporate governance and improve institutional efficiency.
