Mbah raises ESUT monthly subvention, urges ASUU to suspend strike

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has approved an additional N115 million monthly subvention for the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, as part of measures to address concerns over the ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in the institution.

The latest intervention raises the state government’s monthly subvention to ESUT from N161 million to N276 million, representing a cumulative increase of N140 million since February 2026.

The Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the additional funding underscored the administration’s commitment to strengthening the university’s capacity to meet its financial obligations, particularly those relating to staff welfare and the continued provision of quality academic services.

“Governor Mbah has demonstrated once again that his administration places the welfare of workers and the uninterrupted education of our young people at the heart of its priorities. This additional N115 million monthly intervention is a substantial commitment of public resources aimed at strengthening ESUT and ensuring that the institution can meet its obligations to its staff and students,” Onyia said.

The SSG explained that before February 2026, the state government provided N136 million monthly to ESUT.

He said the government subsequently approved an additional N25 million monthly intervention for the ESUT College of Medicine, ESUCOM, to support the payment of 120 additional staff, bringing the total monthly government support to N161 million.

According to him, the latest approval of an additional N115 million will increase the state government’s total monthly subvention to ESUT to N276 million.

Onyia said the enhanced funding would assist the university in meeting the financial requirements associated with the salary agreement reached between ASUU and the Federal Government.

The development comes against the backdrop of growing tension over the implementation of the 2025 ASUU-Federal Government agreement at ESUT.

In June, the ASUU Nsukka Zone had threatened an indefinite strike at ESUT if the Enugu State Government failed to commence implementation of the agreement, including arrears dating back to January 2026, by the end of July.

The union had also raised concerns over staff remuneration and outstanding allowances.

However, in the latest development, the Enugu State Government has appealed to ASUU-ESUT to reciprocate the increased financial commitment by suspending the industrial action and returning to the classrooms.

Onyia said the appeal was necessary to protect students from the consequences of prolonged industrial action.

“We appeal to ASUU-ESUT to reciprocate this gesture by resuming academic activities, while all outstanding issues are addressed through constructive dialogue. Our students should not be made to bear the consequences of disagreements that can be resolved amicably,” he said.

The SSG reaffirmed Governor Mbah’s commitment to the welfare of workers and the sustained development of ESUT, stressing that the substantial increase in government funding demonstrated the administration’s priority for education and the uninterrupted academic calendar.

He urged the university management, ASUU and other stakeholders to embrace dialogue and work collectively towards resolving all outstanding issues.

Onyia said the ultimate objective should be to ensure that students of ESUT receive uninterrupted and quality education.

He further assured the university community that the Mbah administration would continue to support ESUT within available resources while taking necessary measures to strengthen the institution and position it to effectively fulfil its mandate as a leading university of science and technology.

The latest government intervention follows a period of sustained concern over the welfare of ESUT lecturers. In June, ASUU said ESUT remained the only university in its Nsukka Zone yet to implement the 2025 agreement and argued that failure to honour the agreement was affecting staff morale and the university’s ability to attract and retain qualified academics.

The union had also called on Governor Mbah, the university’s Governing Council, traditional rulers, opinion leaders and other stakeholders to intervene to avert disruption of academic activities.