Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has approved a 48 per cent increase in subvention to the state’s four government-owned tertiary institutions following negotiations with the Joint Unions of Gombe State Tertiary Institutions.
The approval is aimed at addressing demands presented by the unions and improving the financial support available to the institutions, particularly in meeting their obligations to staff and strengthening the delivery of academic services.
The Commissioner for Education, Associate Professor Aishatu Umar Maigari, announced the decision in a statement, saying the governor approved the increase as part of his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare and the development of the education sector.
She said the intervention was expected to improve staff motivation and productivity, while supporting more effective service delivery across the affected institutions.
According to the commissioner, the approval followed a period of negotiations between the government and the joint unions, during which the workers’ representatives presented their demands for consideration.
She said the government recognised the importance of addressing issues affecting employees in the tertiary education sector and had taken the decision in line with its commitment to improving working conditions.
Yahaya, she added, reiterated that education remained a priority of his administration and that the welfare of workers in the sector would continue to receive attention, subject to the resources available to the state.
The commissioner said the increase was part of the government’s efforts to strengthen the institutions and create an environment in which staff could perform their responsibilities more effectively.
She urged the leadership of the Joint Unions of Gombe State Tertiary Institutions to reciprocate the governor’s approval by maintaining industrial harmony and ensuring that the institutions continued to operate without unnecessary disruption.
Maigari also called on the unions to encourage their members to demonstrate greater dedication to duty and commitment to academic excellence.
She said the government expected the improved subvention arrangement to support the effective running of the institutions and contribute to the broader objective of repositioning the state’s education sector.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to the unions for their patience and understanding during the negotiation process, noting that the government had considered their demands before reaching the decision.
She assured stakeholders that the administration remained committed to improving efficiency in the education sector and would continue to give attention to issues affecting public tertiary institutions.
The 48 per cent increase applies to the four state-owned tertiary institutions, although the statement did not identify them individually or provide a breakdown of the revised allocations.
It also did not disclose the previous subvention amounts, the new monthly or annual figures payable to each institution, or the date the increase would take effect.
The announcement comes amid continuing discussions in Nigeria’s public education sector over funding, staff welfare, institutional capacity and the need to sustain academic activities.
Subventions are an important source of financial support for government-owned institutions, helping them meet operational responsibilities and other expenditure requirements. The adequacy and timely release of such funds can influence their ability to maintain facilities, support teaching and learning, and meet staff-related obligations.
For the Gombe institutions, the latest approval followed negotiations with their joint unions, whose demands formed the basis of the discussions leading to the government’s decision.
The government, however, did not provide details of the specific demands agreed upon or clarify whether the increase would cover all the issues raised by the unions.
The commissioner maintained that the administration expected the unions to sustain cooperation with the government and support efforts to improve the quality of education in the state.
West Trybe reports that the 48 per cent increase represents a revised funding commitment to Gombe’s four state-owned tertiary institutions, with attention now turning to its implementation, the distribution of the additional funds and whether the improved subvention will address the concerns raised by workers during negotiations.
