Mbah Raises ESUT Monthly Subvention to N276m, Urges ASUU to Suspend Strike
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has approved an additional N115 million monthly subvention for the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, as part of measures to address the concerns underpinning the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, ESUT chapter.
The latest intervention raises the state government’s monthly financial support to the university from N161 million to N276 million, bringing the cumulative increase in monthly subvention since February 2026 to N140 million.
The Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the additional funding reflected the Mbah administration’s determination to strengthen ESUT’s financial capacity, particularly its ability to meet its obligations to staff and sustain quality academic services.
According to Onyia, the latest intervention is a substantial commitment of public resources aimed at ensuring that the university remains financially capable of fulfilling its responsibilities to its workers and students.
“Governor Mbah has demonstrated once again that his administration places the welfare of workers and the uninterrupted education of our young people at the heart of its priorities.
“This additional N115 million monthly intervention is a substantial commitment of public resources aimed at strengthening ESUT and ensuring that the institution can meet its obligations to its staff and students,” he said.
The SSG explained that before February 2026, the state government provided ESUT with N136 million monthly.
He said the government subsequently introduced an additional N25 million monthly intervention for the ESUT College of Medicine, ESUCOM, to support the payment of 120 additional staff, thereby increasing the university’s monthly government subvention to N161 million.
With the latest N115 million increase, Onyia said, the total monthly subvention to ESUT now stands at N276 million.
He added that the intervention was intended, among other objectives, to assist the university in meeting the salary obligations arising from the agreement reached between ASUU and the Federal Government.
Mbah appeals to ASUU
Against the backdrop of the enhanced funding, the SSG appealed to members of ASUU-ESUT to reciprocate the government’s intervention by suspending the ongoing strike and returning to the classrooms.
Onyia urged the union and other stakeholders to resolve outstanding issues through constructive dialogue, stressing that students should not be allowed to bear the consequences of disputes that could be amicably resolved.
“We appeal to ASUU-ESUT to reciprocate this gesture by resuming academic activities, while all outstanding issues are addressed through constructive dialogue.
“Our students should not be made to bear the consequences of disagreements that can be resolved amicably,” he said.
The SSG reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to the welfare of university workers and the sustained development of ESUT, noting that the significant increase in funding underscored the premium the Mbah administration places on education and the uninterrupted academic calendar.
He called on the university management and ASUU to embrace dialogue and work collectively towards resolving the remaining issues, saying the overriding objective should be to guarantee students uninterrupted access to quality education.
Onyia further assured the ESUT community that the Mbah administration would continue to support the institution within available resources and implement measures aimed at strengthening its capacity to fulfil its mandate as a leading university of science and technology.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
