…If you can’t Pay Subvention, Allow Management to Increase Sch. Fees – Prof Osita Ogbu

By Amaechi Agbo

As the students of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) gear up for resumption of the 2025/2026 new academic session on Monday, October 13, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie has lamented the impact of not receiving the monthly subvention from the Enugu State Government on the institution.

Professor Okolie who also expressed worry that ESUT staff have not been enrolled into the payment of the new minimum wage salary in the state since November last year has put the university in financial quagmire.

The VC who disclosed this in Enugu during the two-day training workshop for ESUT Staff, said the non-payment of the monthly subvention for the past four months as well as not incorporating ESUT workers into the new minimum wage structure in the state are two extremes with diverse consequences.

“This workshop is very critical because we are facing many turbulence. At the end of September, we are owed four months subvention. I feel disturbed we are not collecting the new minimum wage. After this workshop, we must think of a way forward. From all indications, as it is now, we are going to a stage where there will no more subvention. I don’t pray we reach there but it is obvious. Right now we are signing Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with relevant partners to prepare for what may come eventually.

“The question is: what do we do to survive? We must provide purposeful leadership in our various faculties, departments and units,” he said.

On his part, the Facilitator of the training workshop, Professor Osita Ogbu argued that subvention is a global practice through which universities are sustained. He expressed concerned that ESUT is being owed four months subvention adding that such act would impede the universities finances and the staff will bear the heat.

“Subvention is a global practice. Governments pay subventions to universities to ensure their sustenance. Education is a social service and the government plays leading role. In Europe, where governments do not pay subvention, they give research grants to the universities. If as government you can’t pay subvention, then allow the management to increase school fees.

“But this will have catastrophic consequences. It means education will no longer be affordable. In a country where we are battling out-of-school pandemic, Enugu State and indeed Nigeria, will not be able to face the future implications when a large number of our children could not access education up to university level,” he warned.

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Enugu – Staff of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, will have a reason to celebrate their yuletide festivities as the management of the university has promised to release letters of newly promoted staff by the end of this month.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie disclosed this on Thursday during his Convocation Media interaction with journalists at the university’s main campus, Agbani.

Prof Okolie who expressed gratitude to his workers for their dedication to service, noted that their promotion letters will be delivered to them by the end of November, stressing that the management and the Central Appraisal Committee (CAC) will meet to conclude deliberations on applications received.

The VC noted that all staff below the ranks of Professor and Reader who are qualified for promotion will be elevated.

“In August, we had new 40 Readers and Professors following their various promotions. The management is not relenting because apart from the fact that a worker deserves his salaries, he or she also deserves promotion once it is merited. We emphasis merit, commitment and productivity.

“The Central Appraisal Committee will meet very soon to rectifying all pending promotion applications and once we are concluded, their letters will be out by the end of the month. Staff below the ranks of Reader who are qualified for promotion will be promoted without delay,” The VC said.

The Vice-Chancellor who praised his management team for their sacrifices and dedication, said that the priority is to establish a work culture that cannot be distorted and expressed the management’s resolve to organise two more Convocation ceremonies before the expiration of their tenure in 2027.

“We are in a hurry to leave. But before we do that, we want to create a working culture for the university that cannot be dismantled. We want to establish work ethics in ESUT where staff and students can attain and express their potentialities.

“When we took over 30 months ago, we organised the first convocation immediately followed by the 2023 edition. Today, we are talking about 3^rd edition. Our target is to organise additional two in 2025 and 2026 before the new VC takes over because we are in a hurry to leave.” he concluded.  

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