Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the implementation of a new salary structure for staff of all state-owned tertiary institutions, with effect from 2026.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor, disclosed this on Thursday, August 13, 2026, during a familiarisation visit to the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.
According to a statement signed by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Ngozi Okiridu, Nwagor said the new salary structure and associated arrears would be paid as soon as funds were released by the Rivers State Government.
The commissioner explained that the implementation was in line with the 2026 agreements between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), aimed at improving staff welfare and promoting industrial harmony in the tertiary education sector.
The upward review covers the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONUASS) and the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS), alongside improved allowances and other benefits contained in the agreements.
Nwagor said the familiarisation visit was designed to engage stakeholders, gain a better understanding of the challenges confronting the institution and identify areas for closer collaboration between the state government and the university.
He commended the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, and his management team for their warm reception and efforts in producing quality teachers who contribute to improved learning outcomes in primary and secondary schools across Rivers State.
The commissioner urged the university to remain committed to quality, accountability and measurable outcomes, stressing that every naira invested in education should translate into improved learning, stronger research and graduates equipped with relevant skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
Nwagor challenged IAUE to position itself as a leading research centre in teacher education, science, mathematics, technology and educational management.
He said research undertaken by the university should go beyond academic publications by providing practical solutions to societal challenges and contributing to sound public policy.
The commissioner, a former Associate Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, also called for the training of teachers who are academically sound, technologically competent, ethically grounded and innovative, with the capacity to meet the demands of the 21st-century classroom.
He emphasised the importance of strict compliance with the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards, urging the university to assess its programmes and facilities against clear performance indicators and address identified challenges with determination.
Nwagor further advocated stronger partnerships between the university, industries, professional bodies and the private sector to create opportunities for internships, entrepreneurship and graduate employment.
He also called for the re-engagement of the university’s extensive alumni network as strategic partners in institutional development.
The commissioner assured the university that the Ministry of Education would continue to promote the prudent utilisation of public resources and present issues requiring government intervention for appropriate consideration and support, subject to available resources and prevailing policies.
He described the visit as the beginning of a deeper partnership between the ministry and the university, expressing confidence that both parties could work together to build the Rivers State envisioned by its founding fathers.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Onuchuku, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for approving the implementation of the agreements reached with the unions.
Onuchuku assured the commissioner that the university remained committed to fulfilling its responsibilities and complying with directives issued by the NUC.
He, however, appealed for increased government intervention in critical areas, including hostel accommodation, staff offices, classrooms, science laboratories, perimeter fencing, electricity supply and the rehabilitation of the university’s access road.
The Vice-Chancellor stressed that sustainable development of the institution could not be achieved without adequate funding and urged all stakeholders to work with the state government to advance the growth of the university.
Dr Okiridu stated that the commissioner was accompanied on the visit by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr Mina Tele Ikuru, and other directors of the ministry.
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