The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved a 60 per cent increase in the monthly subvention allocated to all state-owned tertiary institutions in the state.
The governor also approved the immediate implementation of the agreement reached between the Federal Government and university-based unions, in a move aimed at improving staff welfare and preventing industrial unrest in the institutions.
The two measures, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, take effect from August.
Adeniyan said the increased funding was intended to strengthen the institutions’ ability to meet their financial obligations, ensure regular payment of workers’ salaries and improve the learning environment.
He added that the implementation of the Federal Government-unions agreement would address longstanding welfare concerns among workers and bring the state-owned institutions closer to prevailing national standards.
The governor directed the managements of the affected institutions to use the additional funds judiciously, with priority given to workers’ welfare and academic excellence.
Aiyedatiwa also appealed to the unions to reciprocate the gesture by maintaining industrial harmony and concentrating on providing quality education to students.
The governor said his administration remained committed to positioning Ondo State as a destination for quality tertiary education, adding that further interventions would be introduced to strengthen the sector.