The Enugu State Government has increased the monthly subvention to the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) from ₦161 million to ₦276 million, as Governor Peter Mbah appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ESUT chapter, to suspend its ongoing strike and return to the classrooms.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this in a statement, saying the additional ₦115 million was approved to strengthen the university’s finances and enable it to meet its obligations to workers, including the implementation of the salary agreement reached between ASUU and the Federal Government.
Onyia said the latest intervention brings the total increase in the state’s monthly support for ESUT to ₦140 million since February 2026.
He explained that before February, the state government provided ₦136 million monthly to the university. An additional ₦25 million was later approved for the ESUT College of Medicine (ESUCOM) to support the payment of 120 additional staff, bringing the monthly subvention to ₦161 million.
With the newly approved ₦115 million increase, ESUT’s monthly subvention now stands at ₦276 million.
The SSG described the intervention as a demonstration of the Mbah administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare and the uninterrupted education of students.
He appealed to the striking lecturers to reciprocate the government’s gesture by returning to work while outstanding issues are resolved through dialogue.
“We appeal to ASUU-ESUT to reciprocate this gesture by resuming academic activities, while all outstanding issues are addressed through constructive dialogue,” Onyia said.
He stressed that students should not bear the consequences of disagreements between the university, government and academic staff, particularly when such issues could be resolved through engagement.
According to him, the additional funding is expected to strengthen ESUT’s capacity to meet its financial obligations and support the implementation of the salary agreement.
Onyia further reaffirmed Governor Mbah’s commitment to the sustained development of ESUT and assured the university community that the state government would continue to provide support within available resources.
He urged ASUU, ESUT management and other stakeholders to work together to resolve the outstanding issues and restore normal academic activities.
The government said its ultimate priority remains ensuring that students receive quality and uninterrupted education while safeguarding the welfare of university workers.
