President Bola Tinubu has announced plans to review the conditions of service and remuneration of university staff nationwide, aiming to align salaries and welfare with current economic realities and boost the quality of teaching, research, and learning in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Speaking at the 49th Convocation Ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to dialogue as the foundation for lasting industrial peace in higher education.
Represented by former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Kabir Bala, the president called for mutual respect and collaboration between government and university staff. He urged staff to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve disputes, stressing that such engagement would ensure universities remain open, stable, and productive.
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“Government remains committed to dialogue as the surest path to lasting industrial peace in our tertiary institutions,” Tinubu said. “The Federal Government is intensifying efforts to review the conditions of service and remuneration of university staff to reflect the realities of the present-day economy. In collaboration with relevant staff unions and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, we are developing a sustainable framework that rewards dedication, innovation, and productivity while ensuring fiscal responsibility. Let us continue to resolve our differences through dialogue so that our universities remain stable and conducive for learning. We are also expanding opportunities for collaboration among universities, industry, and government.”
Addressing the graduands, Tinubu said, “Your generation represents the hope and promise of a better Nigeria. Our nation looks up to you not just to succeed, but to make a difference in your professions, communities, and on the global stage. Wherever life takes you, carry the Great Ife spirit of excellence, courage, and progress.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, delivering the convocation lecture titled ‘Raising a New Generation of Leaders for the World in Such a Difficult Time Through University Education’, called on universities to establish departments awarding degrees in leadership.
The Vice Chancellor of OAU, Professor Simeon Bamire, announced that 6,526 students graduated during the 49th convocation. He provided a breakdown of the awards: undergraduate diplomas – 54; classified degrees – 5,253; unclassified degrees – 295; postgraduate degrees – 959.
