Zulum pledges salary relief, improved facilities for tertiary institutions

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has promised salary relief and improved facilities for staff and students of tertiary institutions in the state.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Dauda Iliya, the governor’s Adviser on Media and Communication, on Thursday in Maiduguri.

Iliya said the administration would review the salaries of staff of Ramat Polytechnic and the state’s Colleges of Education, while addressing salary arrears, promotions and other outstanding benefits owed workers.

The Governor directed the heads of the institutions to review the outstanding obligations and submit their recommendations within one to two weeks.

He also pledged to provide funding for the accreditation of academic programmes and recruit academic staff based on the needs of the institutions.

Zulum said his administration would construct, expand and rehabilitate infrastructure in some tertiary institutions to create a more conducive environment for teaching and learning.

He specifically promised to rehabilitate staff quarters at Ramat Polytechnic and remodel the students’ hostel at the College of Nursing, Maiduguri, to accommodate more students.

The Governor said attention would also be given to Abba Ashigar College of Business and Management Studies, Konduga, and the College of Legal and Islamic Studies to restore their relevance.

He directed the Konduga institution to reintroduce courses, including Office Technology and Auditing, to strengthen the skills of local government workers.

“Education is the bedrock for any meaningful development, and therefore investment in education will never be in vain,” Zulum said.

Responding, Prof. Babagana Gutti, Vice-Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University, commended the Governor for his interventions and appealed for increased funding, staff recruitment, accommodation and buses to ease students’ transportation challenges.