Gombe Approves ₦148m Monthly Boost for State University

(Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya. Photo by Arewa Reporters)

Gombe State's governor has approved an additional monthly payment of about 148 million naira to the state university to help implement a new salary structure for academic and non-academic staff.

The new pay arrangement, known as CATA, is expected to start in October 2026.

According to officials, this approval comes as part of the governor's response to agreements made between the federal government and university staff unions in 2025.

The additional funding represents a 56 per cent increase in what the government usually gives to the university each month.

The governor has also instructed the university to immediately begin processing payments for outstanding salary arrears owed to staff under the new structure.

Beyond CATA, the university has been directed to look for internal ways to gradually settle other outstanding payments, including previous wage awards and minimum wage increases that staff are owed.

Officials said the government plans to address all these obligations in stages while ensuring the university remains financially stable and can continue its academic activities without disruption.

The state's assembly has also passed a law creating an education trust fund that will start operating in October 2026.

The fund is designed to provide a more reliable way to finance education in the state, particularly the university and other higher institutions run by the government.

It is expected to help the government meet both regular expenses and development needs, as well as provide a more dependable system for handling staff welfare and institutional requirements.

The government is calling on staff unions to acknowledge the steps already taken, the promises made and the genuine commitment the administration has shown to solving the concerns of both academic and non-academic workers in a way that works for everyone.