Oborevwori Approves New Salary Structure for Delta Tertiary Workers

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has approved a new salary structure for academic staff of the state’s four universities, effective from August 2026, while the new structure for non-academic staff and workers in other state-owned tertiary institutions will take effect from September.

Oborevwori disclosed this on Tuesday in Asaba during the swearing-in of the newly appointed Auditor-General of Delta State, Mr. Emasogbe Matthew Oghene, and the inauguration of the Governing Councils of the University of Delta, Agbor; Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; and Southern Delta University, Ozoro.

The governor said the state’s four universities had expanded their academic offerings to include professional courses such as medicine, law, nursing and accounting, while student enrolment had increased from about 50,000 in 2023 to more than 100,000 in 2026.

He also noted that the universities had maintained uninterrupted academic calendars without staff strikes or student unrest for 17 years.

Describing Delta as an emerging education hub in Nigeria, Oborevwori charged the newly inaugurated governing councils to strengthen corporate governance, improve efficiency and position the institutions for sustainable growth.

He urged the councils to uphold transparency and accountability, ensure regular meetings and operate strictly in line with their enabling laws. He also directed them to maintain zero tolerance for sexual harassment, examination malpractice, cultism, favouritism and corruption.

The governor said government could not be expected to solely fund the universities, stressing the need for the institutions to attract private-sector investments and explore other sustainable funding sources.

“It is unrealistic and unsustainable for a university to rely solely on government funding,” he said.

Oborevwori disclosed that his administration had approved the construction of two hostels for each of the state’s nine tertiary institutions, with each hostel designed to accommodate 480 students.

He urged the councils to build on the progress recorded in the institutions and make them more competitive nationally and internationally.

The governor also charged the newly appointed Auditor-General, Mr. Emasogbe Matthew Oghene, to discharge his responsibilities with transparency, courage, professionalism and fairness, warning against political witch-hunting and deliberate cover-up.

Responding on behalf of the appointees, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Dennis Osadebay University, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, thanked the governor for the appointments and called for the establishment of a Higher Education Endowment Fund to provide sustainable funding for tertiary institutions.

Muoboghare also urged eminent Deltans and other Nigerians to partner with government by investing in student hostels, staff accommodation, lecture halls and faculty buildings, noting that government alone could not provide all the infrastructure required for the universities.

Prof. Victor Peretomode chairs the University of Delta Governing Council, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare chairs the Dennis Osadebay University council, while Chief Godson Echegile chairs the Southern Delta University council.