By Abdullahi InuwaÂ
The Kebbi State Government has released more than N2.07 billion for interventions in tertiary institutions across the state, in a major push to improve infrastructure, strengthen academic standards and boost staff welfare.
The Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Isah Abubakar-Tunga, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.
According to the commissioner, the latest intervention includes N172 million approved and released by Governor Nasir Idris on August 14 for the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA).
The allowances are for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) at the Abdullahi Fodiyo University of Science and Technology, Aliero.
Abubakar-Tunga said the governor had also approved the integration of the CATA and CONTTA salary structure into the university’s monthly subvention.
The decision, he explained, would translate into an estimated N2.06 billion annual financial commitment by the state government to sustain the allowance structure.
In another major intervention, the government approved and released N151.51 million to settle identified annual increment arrears owed to staff of the university.
The commissioner said the various approvals and financial interventions made for the Ministry of Higher Education in August alone amounted to over N2.07 billion.
He described the releases as a significant milestone in the administration’s drive to reposition tertiary education and create an environment capable of supporting quality teaching, research and learning.
Abubakar-Tunga said the interventions demonstrated the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of academic and non-academic staff while addressing critical needs within the state’s higher education institutions.
He assured that the Ministry of Higher Education would continue to support policies and programmes of the Governor Idris administration aimed at transforming the sector and bringing Kebbi’s tertiary institutions closer to global standards.
The latest financial commitments are expected to provide further relief for university workers while strengthening the government’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality and sustainability of higher education in Kebbi State.
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