By Anastacia Eluwa, Asaba
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has approved a new salary structure for academic staff of the state’s four universities, effective August 2026.
The governor also approved the implementation of the new structure for non-academic staff and workers in other state-owned tertiary institutions from September 2026.
Oborevwori disclosed this on Tuesday in Asaba during the swearing-in of the newly appointed Auditor-General of the 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.
He said the four state-owned universities now offer professional programmes, including medicine, law, nursing and accounting, while student enrolment had increased from about 50,000 in 2023 to more than 100,000 in 2026.
According to him, the institutions have also maintained uninterrupted academic calendars, without staff strikes or student unrest, for 17 years.
The governor described Delta as an emerging education hub in Nigeria and charged the new governing councils to strengthen corporate governance, improve institutional efficiency and position the universities for sustainable growth.Geographic Reference
He urged the councils to uphold transparency, accountability and collective responsibility, while ensuring that the institutions operate in line with their enabling laws.
Oborevwori also directed the councils to maintain zero tolerance for sexual harassment, examination malpractice, cultism, favouritism and corruption, with appropriate sanctions for violations.
The governor said government funding alone could not sustain university development, stressing that institutions must attract private-sector investments.
He disclosed that his administration had approved the construction of two hostels for each of the nine state-owned tertiary institutions, with each hostel designed to accommodate 480 students.
Oborevwori urged the councils to market their institutions aggressively and attract investments that would improve infrastructure and academic standards.
He also charged the new Auditor-General, Emasogbe, to perform his duties with transparency, courage, professionalism and fairness, warning against political witch-hunting and deliberate cover-ups.
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.
