GOVERNOR Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, who is also the Visitor to Gombe State University, has approved an additional monthly subvention of N148.762 million to the institution to facilitate the full implementation of the Enhanced Salary Structure, known as the Consolidated Academic Tool Allowance, CATA, effective from October 2026.
News Point Nigeria reports that the enhanced funding, representing a 56 per cent increase in subvention, is part of the Gombe State Government’s efforts to address concerns arising from the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria-ASUU Agreement and strengthen the university’s capacity to meet its obligations to staff.
The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, who conveyed the Governor’s approval, said the additional funding would enable the university to make adequate budgetary provisions for the implementation of the new salary structure in the 2026 Supplementary Budget, scheduled for consideration by the Gombe State House of Assembly in September.
The approval, according to the government, is expected to provide the institution with the financial capacity required for the full implementation of the Enhanced Salary Structure and other staff-related obligations.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya has also directed the management of Gombe State University to immediately commence the necessary processes for the payment of outstanding CATA arrears.
In addition to the implementation of CATA, the Governor directed the University Management to explore internal measures for the progressive settlement of other outstanding staff obligations.
These include arrears of the 25 per cent and 35 per cent wage awards, minimum wage obligations and Earned Academic Allowances.
The government said its approach was to address the outstanding obligations in phases, while taking into consideration the financial sustainability of the university and the need to ensure uninterrupted academic activities.
As part of its broader response to funding challenges confronting the education sector, the Gombe State House of Assembly has also passed a law establishing the Gombe State Education Trust Fund, with operations expected to commence in October 2026.
The Fund is designed to provide a sustainable financing framework for education, particularly for Gombe State University and other state-owned tertiary institutions.
According to the government, the Education Trust Fund is expected to strengthen its capacity to meet both recurrent and developmental needs across the education sector while providing a more dependable mechanism for addressing staff welfare and other institutional requirements.
The government therefore urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to take cognisance of the measures already put in place, the assurances given and what it described as the genuine commitment of the Inuwa Yahaya administration to addressing the concerns of both academic and non-academic staff unions in a sustainable and mutually beneficial manner.
It added that the administration remained committed to working with ASUU, the University Management and other stakeholders to ensure industrial harmony and preserve the stability and continued development of Gombe State University.