Why Kano Govt Increased University Workers’ Salaries by N4.7bn

The Kano State Government has approved a new salary structure for academic and non-academic staff of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, and Northwest University, Kano, at an annual cost of N4.7bn.

The government said the move was aimed at improving workers’ welfare, preventing industrial disputes and aligning the remuneration of staff in the two state-owned universities with the new salary package being implemented in federal universities.

The approval was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the governor’s spokesman, Sunusi Bature, following recommendations by a committee constituted by the State Executive Council to review requests by the two institutions for the domestication of the new federal universities’ remuneration package.

Under the new arrangement, which takes effect from January 2026, payment will commence in September.

The salary review will cost the state N391.85m monthly, translating to N4.70bn annually.
At Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, the monthly cost is N228.20m, comprising N141.08m for academic staff under the ASUU agreement and N87.11m for non-academic staff under SSANU.

For Northwest University, the monthly implication is N163.65m, comprising N112.24m for academic staff and N51.41m for non-academic staff.

The government approved N1.57bn in the 2026 Supplementary Budget to fund the September-to-December payments, while N3.13bn required to settle arrears from January to August 2026 will be captured in the 2027 Budget.

According to the committee’s report, the review is expected to promote industrial harmony and improve staff morale by ensuring that workers in the state-owned universities are not left behind their federal counterparts.

Governor Yusuf also approved the consideration of visitation panels for the two universities and other tertiary institutions in the state to strengthen accountability and improve administration.

The governor said his administration remained committed to workers’ welfare and improving the quality of higher education as part of its human capital development agenda.