Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has pledged more funding and government support for tertiary institutions in the state to improve staff welfare, strengthen academic programmes and enhance learning conditions.
Governor Zulum made the pledge when he received the Forum of Heads of Tertiary Institutions in the state at the Council Chambers of the Government House, Maiduguri.
The governor pledged to review the salaries of staff of Ramat Polytechnic and the state’s Colleges of Education, provide funding for the accreditation of academic programmes, recruit academic staff based on institutional needs, and undertake the construction, expansion and rehabilitation of infrastructure in selected tertiary institutions.
He also promised additional government support to strengthen the institutions, improve staff welfare and create a better learning environment for students.
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“Education is the bedrock for any meaningful development, and therefore investment in education will never be in vain,” Zulum said.
He explained that the meeting was convened to address issues concerning salary arrears, promotions and other benefits owed to staff of tertiary institutions in the state.
“I invited the heads of tertiary institutions to discuss one fundamental issue: the payment of salary arrears and the implementation of promotions and benefits for staff of tertiary institutions in the state.
“I want to pay, but I want you to review it very well and get back to me within the next one to two weeks”.
Zulum said his administration was particularly interested in transforming the Abba Ashigar College of Business and Management Studies, Konduga, and the College of Legal and Islamic Studies, with the aim of restoring both institutions to their expected standards and relevance in society.
He directed the Provost of the College of Business and Management Studies, Konduga, which was established to produce skilled middle-level manpower for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the state, to reintroduce courses such as Office Technology and Auditing.
According to the governor, the move would enhance the capacity of personnel, particularly those serving at the local government level, while ensuring that the institution responds effectively to the manpower needs of the state.
The governor further pledged to rehabilitate the staff quarters at Ramat Polytechnic and remodel the students’ hostel at the College of Nursing, Maiduguri, to increase its accommodation capacity and enable more students to be accommodated.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University, Professor Babagana Gutti, who spoke on behalf of the Forum of Heads of Tertiary Institutions, commended Governor Zulum for what he described as unprecedented progress in the education sector.
Gutti particularly acknowledged developments recorded in primary and secondary education, as well as the establishment of new federal and state tertiary institutions across Borno.
He, however, appealed to the governor for increased funding to enable the institutions to effectively discharge their academic responsibilities.
The Vice Chancellor also called for a review of staff salaries, recruitment of additional academic and non-academic personnel, construction of staff quarters in institutions where they are lacking, rehabilitation of existing staff quarters, and provision of buses to reduce the transportation burden on students.
