Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has approved the constitution of a fact-finding committee to undertake a comprehensive review of academic staff remuneration and welfare practices in selected state-owned universities across Nigeria.
The move is aimed at strengthening the welfare of academic staff at Yobe State University (YSU) and providing the government with evidence-based recommendations on higher education financing, staff remuneration and institutional sustainability.
The Acting Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Mohammed Goje, disclosed this in a statement issued in Damaturu on Thursday.
According to him, the initiative reflects the Buni administration’s commitment to improving tertiary education and ensuring that decisions affecting academic institutions are guided by facts, best practices and fiscal responsibility.
Goje said the committee would be chaired by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Muhammad Bello Kawuwa.
Other members include Dr Mohammed Adamu Gulani, Prof. Mohammed Musa Lawan, Dr Babagana Boso and Dr Alhaji Ahmadu Ibrahim, all of Yobe State University.
He added that the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office of the Secretary to the State Government, would serve as the committee’s secretary.
The acting SSG explained that the committee had been mandated to visit at least three state-owned universities in Nigeria to study their remuneration frameworks, implementation experiences, challenges, funding models and best practices.
He said the exercise would enable the state government to gain firsthand knowledge of how similar institutions address issues relating to staff welfare, funding sustainability, institutional governance and the implementation of agreements affecting academic personnel.
“The committee is expected to provide objective information and recommendations on emerging issues relating to university staff remuneration, institutional sustainability and higher education financing,” he said.
According to the terms of reference, the committee will examine institutional approaches to academic staff remuneration and incentive structures, as well as review the implementation of recent Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) agreements.
The review will cover the Consequential Adjustment of Tertiary Allowances (CATA), Professorial Cadre Allowance and Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), among other welfare-related provisions.
The committee is also expected to assess the fiscal sustainability of the institutions visited, identify best practices in university governance and staff motivation, and evaluate the likely impact of similar interventions on Yobe State-owned tertiary institutions.
It will further engage university managements, governing councils, staff unions and relevant government officials before submitting a comprehensive report containing its findings, lessons learnt, policy options and recommendations.
Goje stressed that the committee’s assignment was strictly advisory and fact-finding in nature and did not confer any policy-making authority.
He expressed confidence that the outcome of the exercise would support informed government decisions aimed at enhancing academic excellence, staff welfare and sustainable development of tertiary education in the state.
