The Enugu State Government has approved an increase in the minimum wage of staff of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Agbani, from N32,000 to N82,000 monthly, effective September 1, 2026.

The approval was contained in a letter signed by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, dated August 11, 2026, and addressed to the Accountant General of the state.

According to the letter, the approval followed a report submitted by the Joint Action Committee on Trade Union (JACTU) in ESUT over issues surrounding a one-month strike ultimatum issued by the university’s unions.

The government also approved an across-the-board increase of N50,000 for all other categories of staff of the university.

The SSG directed the Accountant General to fully implement the approval of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.

The directive referenced an earlier Government House letter dated August 7, 2026, on the matter.

The letter, which was copied to the Vice-Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, for information and necessary action, is expected to take effect from September 1, 2026.

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By Amaechi Agbo

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have officially demanded a new national minimum wage of ₦500,000 for Nigerian workers, arguing that the current wage structure has been completely eroded by inflation and economic hardship.

The demand was made by Comrade Audu Titus Amba (National Deputy President of the NLC) during the Nigeria Workers’ Rights Summit in Birnin Kebbi.The

Organised labour notes that the timeframe for the previous wage adjustments elapsed in July 2026, legally clearing the path for a fresh round of negotiations.

Representatives from both the NLC and TUC emphasized that any figure below ₦500,000 cannot sustain an average worker due to skyrocketing living costs and severe economic pressures.

Labour leadership clarified that they are not seeking a direct confrontation with the Federal Government, but are instead advocating for constructive engagement to review workers’ welfare.

During the summit, Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, assured workers that his administration is prepared to review state policies and adapt to newly negotiated welfare structures to ensure a better standard of living for civil servants.

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The Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Chapter, Comrade Andrew Apeh, has called on the institution’s management to expedite action on the implementation of the new minimum wage for staff of the university.

Comrade Apeh, who made the call during an interview with ESUT Monitor, appealed to the management of to ensure the immediate implementation of the newly approved minimum wage for the staff.

Speaking during an engagement, the union leader stated that ASUU has continued to make constructive and disciplined efforts to ensure that staff welfare remains a priority. “We have been engaging the university management to see reasons why ESUT workers should be brought up to the wage level enjoyed by their counterparts in other institutions. The new minimum wage is a benchmark already being implemented in other universities and ESUT should not be left behind,” he sated

 He stressed that the union will persist in its dialogue-driven approach to ensure that the rights and welfare of staff are fully protected and promoted.

Comrade Apeh explained that while other universities have commenced implementation, ESUT workers are still waiting, adding that the union’s position remains consistent engagement.

He reassured ASUU members that the union leaders will continue to push for fairness, equity, and improved working conditions until the new wage structure is fully activated in the institution.

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…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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By Amaechi Agbo

Agbani – The staff of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, (ESUT) may not start receiving their new minimum wage any time soon as the University management has disclosed that it would need at least the sum of N25 million monthly to effectively implement the new minimum wage in the institution, www.esutmoitor.com can authoritatively report.

This is as the State Government, the owner of the university is silent over increase in the subvention it pays to the university.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Aloysius Michaels Okolie said on Wednesday during the University Senate Meeting, that the management needs the sum of N25 million monthly to begin the implementation of the new minimum wage in the school.

ESUT Monitor gathered that Professor Okolie who stated the management’s willingness to begin the implementation of the new minimum wage, however expressed dismay that without corresponding increment in the Enugu State Government’s subvention, the university is handicapped.

The VC while acknowledging the difficulties the staff face in view of the implementation of the new wage structure, considering that the state government began the implementation in November 2024, called on the workers to patient with the management as they sort out solution.

Sources told this paper that the VC noted that no tertiary institution in Enugu State has started paying its staff the new minimum wage and called on the staff for more Understanding.

One of our sources recalled what the VC said during the meeting thus: “The committee on implementation of the new minimum wage submitted their report some weeks ago and to effectively begin this new payment, we will need additional N25 million every month. This will catapult our monthly wage bill to N467 million out of which the State Government pays N204 subvention. Which means we will be sorting out N263 million monthly for wages if we must pay the new minimum wage.

“The Government has not said anything on increasing the subvention, however, we are not relenting. I want to assure our staff that the management is working round the clock to sort things out and find a solution,” the source said.

The VC noted that while faculties and departments are increasing, the government subvention to the university is not increasing which adds much strains to the already stretched resources in the university  

The Vice Chancellor further disclosed that the university will, starting from June 1^st, 2025, commence payment of the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) to all lecturers.

CONUASS is a salary structure used in Nigeria for academic staff, including lecturers and professors, in both federal and state universities

He appreciated the academic staff for their patience with respect to the payment of the CONUASS

CONUASS stands for Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure. It’s a salary structure used in Nigeria for academic staff, including lecturers and professors, in both federal and state universities

The Vice Chancellor further promised to start paying promotion arrears from 2020/2021. And expressed his determination to exhaust all the debt he inherited before he leaves the university including the Cooperative Micro-Finance

It could be recalled that various workers unions on Campus had threatened to embank on industrial action in January over the none implementation of the new minimum wage and other entitlements

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The Vice Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, on Wednesday, inaugurated the committee on the implementation of the new minimum wage.

While inaugurating the committee in his office, in Agbani, Enugu State, he explained that the committee became necessary following the directive of the state Commissioner of Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, to collate relevant data and work out modalities for implementation of the N80,000 minimum wage as approved by the Governor of the state, Barr. Ndubuisi Mbah.

The committee which was headed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Chike Nwoha, was given the following terms of references:

“To collate data from sister State universities in the South East and two federal universities from the zone on the implementation plan, including pattern of consequential adjustments.

“To determine workable strategies for implementing the new minimum wage for ESUT workers.

“To develop a template for presenting the findings to His Excellency for adjustments in the monthly subvention paid by the Government.

“To advise on other measures for liquidating other outstanding debts owed to ESUT workers.”

Other members of the committee include the ESUT Registrar, Ambrose Ugwu; ESUT Bursar, Dr. Austin Ojeh; ESUT ASUU chairman, Professor Emeka Nnamani; ESUT SSANU Acting chairman, Mr. Ikechukwu Ezeanioma.

The rest include, ESUT NASU chairman, Cosmas Aja; ESUT NAAT chairman, Mrs. Antonia Onyia; and the Deputy Registrar- Establishment, Victor Nwachukwu who would serve as the secretary of the committee.

In his post inauguration remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Professor Nwoha, thanked the Vice Chancellor for finding them worthy to serve.

Though he said that the responsibility was tasking, he assured that given the capacities of the members of the committee, they would not fail to deliver on their mandates.

The committee has two weeks to submit its report.

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The Vice-Chancellor, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie has disclosed that the Enugu State Government has not increased the University’s subvention for the past two and a half decades

The Vice-Chancellor who stated his in an Interview on the backdrop of the implementation of the ₦80, 000 new minimum wage in the university, noted that the management would not be able to effectively pay the new minimum wage without an upward review in the monthly subvention the school receives from the government.

Prof Okie who acknowledged the management’s readiness to pay, added that the new minimum wage will scale up the wage bill, thus the need for review.

“If you approve new minimum wage, you have to increase subvention. For now, subvention hasn’t been increased for the past 25 years,” the VC said.

He noted that with new programmes being incorporated into the university, new challenges such as staffing would arise as well as the additional salary

“Even with all these new programmes, the subvention is just ₦136 million, and our wage bill is about N440 million.

“The local governments pay N68 million, and if you add that to the state government’s contribution, you get N204 million.

“The last time we checked, they owed us N82 million. Unremitted subvention from the local government hasn’t been updated to know if it has reached N100 million.

“As of May, they owed us over N200 million. We used JAC to ask for the money, and it’s piling up again as debt. In fact, I have to tell you that we received subvention from the state government for November on December 19. If we had waited, we would be paying staff their November salaries on December 20.

“These are the challenges. We are ready to pay the new minimum wage but we also need the state government to review the subvention we are receiving,” the Vice-Chancellor concluded

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By Joseph Joy, Chiekezie Emmanuel, Onyekachi Agu and Ani Ruth

Enugu – In November, the Enugu State Government began the implementation of the ₦80, 000 new minimum wage as approved by the Governor, Barr Dr Peter Ndubisi Mbah in October.

The Governor had in October approved N80,000 minimum wage for the state’s work force, including local government workers, effective October 2024.

Although the Governor lived up to his promise by starting the payment of the new minimum wage to the state workers, ESUT Monitor can authoritatively report that the staff of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, owned by the state government, are not part of those who are currently being paid the new minimum wage.

Prior to the Christmas and New Year break on Friday December 20, various unions in ESUT had threatened to embark on industrial action to press home their demand for inclusion and other outstanding benefits.

This paper understands that while the threat to down tools, perhaps when the university resumes on Monday, January 6, 2025 has not been waved, the staff are agitated over their exclusion from the new minimum wage payment.

Investigation shows that ESUT Staff were also excluded from the wage award of N25,000 the Governor approved for workers from December 2023 till October 2024 when the new minimum wage of N80,000 was approved and consequently reflected in the November salary

Speaking in an exclusive interview with our reporters, ESUT’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie acknowledged that indeed the staff of the university are not yet paid but offered explanations.

He noted that situation is not perculiar to ESUT but affects all Enugu State owned tertiary institutions who are receiving subventions from the government. He explained further that the ESUT management, likewise other institutions’ Managements are waiting for the state government to issue them a White Paper on the Consequential Adjustment relating to the implementation of the new minimum wage.

“The Council discussed this in our last meeting before we went on break. We’re waiting for the document that reflects the consequential adjustment. Most of them at the ministry aren’t very concerned about consequential adjustments. When you increase the minimum wage, there’s a White Paper that guides the consequential adjustment. We haven’t seen that from the governor.

“You don’t become arbitrary when you increase the minimum wage. It’s not enough to say they’ve increased it, but once the government issues us a White Paper stating the increment, procedure of consequential adjustment, reflecting on what they’ll bring, ESUT will equally join. Assuming they bring 33% from the local government, the implication is that ESUT has been bringing 57% and augmenting it.

“If you move people below ₦80, 000 to ₦80, 000 you should have consequential adjustments. The picture at the ministries isn’t clear, though we discussed it at the Council. How can we get them to bring the White Paper that will guide us to do the needful?

“This issue does not affect only ESUT but also no state university in Enugu State has started implementing it because of the challenges I explained. The heads of other tertiary institutions face the same challenges. We want to pay, but the government must bring consequential adjustments with matching upgrades so we can start paying,” the VC explained.

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