State Government Approves New Minimum Wage
The Enugu State Government has approved an increase in the minimum monthly wage for staff of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), raising it from N32,000 to N82,000.
The new wage structure is expected to take effect from September 1, 2026, following an approval by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration.
The approval was communicated in a letter dated August 11 and signed by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia.
The letter was addressed to the state Accountant General and followed discussions over the welfare of workers at the university.
The decision came after the Joint Action Committee on Trade Union (JACTU) at ESUT submitted a report concerning demands by workers and a one-month strike ultimatum issued by the university’s unions.
In addition to the new minimum wage, the state government approved a N50,000 increase for other categories of workers at the university.
The Secretary to the State Government instructed the Accountant General to ensure that the approval was fully implemented in line with the governor’s directive.
The decision also followed an earlier communication from the Government House dated August 7, 2026.
A copy of the letter was sent to the Vice-Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, for information and further action.
Speaking during the 278th Regular Meeting of the university’s Senate on Wednesday, Okolie said the institution was still discussing staff welfare with the state government.
He indicated that the university was seeking additional improvements in the conditions of service for its workers.
The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that governors in the South-East had agreed to work towards a minimum 20 per cent salary increase for workers in state-owned universities across the region.
However, individual governors would have the option of approving increases above the agreed benchmark.
Okolie commended Governor Mbah for the wage adjustment and other interventions involving the university.
He also referred to government support for infrastructure and improvements in academic programmes at ESUT.
He appealed to union leaders at the institution to give the university management more time to complete its discussions with the state government over the wider welfare concerns of workers.
The new wage approval is expected to provide immediate relief for ESUT employees, while further negotiations between the university management and the state government continue over other issues affecting staff.
