In a bid to mitigate the effects of the fuel subsidy on its employees, Pen Resources University, a private university in Gombe, has announced a salary increment for all categories of staff.
According to a report, the increment, which ranges from 25 per cent to 35 per cent, is aimed at cushioning the effects of the fuel subsidy removal. The move comes amidst a sharp increase in the cost of living in the country.
Dr Sani Jauro, the Pro-Chancellpr of the first private university in Gombe State, while speaking during the 2nd matriculation ceremony of 334 students on Saturday, said the gesture is one of the initiatives by the university to show concern about the welfare of its staff and management in the face of economic and other hardships in the country.
He expressed that it is expected that the salary increment will help boost staff morale and motivation, which will, in turn, improve productivity and contribute to making the institution one of the top ten universities in Nigeria.
Dr Sani said, “The council of the university is aware of what everybody is going through and has approved the upward review of our salaries. All our staff, from the cleaners to Lecturer 1, will receive a 26 per cent salary increase; senior lecturers and readers will get a 30 per cent increase; and the professors are going to get a 35 per cent salary Increase. This salary review has been approved and will be implemented from October.”
He further disclosed that the salary review included the staff of the nursery, primary, and secondary sections of the Pen Resource Academy.
He added, “All staff of the academy, from the cleaners to the headteacher, principal, and head of admin, as well as every other staff, will receive a 25 per cent salary increase. This is to demonstrate our respect and our commitment to the protection of the integrity and dignity of our teachers and our workers; we would not like to see our teachers going to the market to take a loan of rice or other stuff; we want our teachers and workers to be above board.”
He urged the staff to rededicate themselves to their duties and work for the actualisation of the goal of the university, which is to partner with parents and inspire students to attain the highest academic and moral standards in their upbringing, saying, “To whom much is given, much is expected”.
