Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has approved a new salary package for academic and non-academic staff of two state-owned universities, with the review backdated to January 2026.
The two institutions are Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, and Northwest University, Kano, with payment of the new remuneration package expected to commence in September 2026.
The approval followed the report and recommendations of a committee constituted by the State Executive Council to examine requests from the two universities for the domestication of the new salary structure recently introduced by the Federal Government for workers in federal universities.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Director-General, Media and Publicity to the Governor, Sunusi Tofa, said the salary increase was adopted from the Federal Government’s new remuneration package being implemented in federal universities across the country.
Under the approved arrangement, the new salary structure will take effect from January 2026, meaning eligible workers will be entitled to arrears covering the period before actual payment begins in September.
The salary review has a total financial implication of N391.85 million monthly, translating to approximately N4.70 billion annually for the two universities.
At Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, the new salary package will cost the state government N228.20 million monthly.
Of this amount, N141.08 million is for academic staff under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) agreement, while N87.11 million is for non-academic staff under the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
For Northwest University, Kano, the new remuneration package will cost N163.65 million monthly, comprising N112.24 million for academic staff and N51.41 million for non-academic staff.
To commence payment, the state government approved the inclusion of N1.57 billion in the 2026 Supplementary Budget to cover the new salaries from September to December 2026.
The government also made provisions for outstanding arrears covering January to August 2026, estimated at N3.13 billion, which will be provided for under the 2027 Budget.
According to the committee’s report, the salary review is intended to promote industrial harmony and improve the welfare of workers in the two institutions, while aligning their remuneration with the new salary structure being implemented in federal universities and other state-owned tertiary institutions.
Governor Yusuf also approved the consideration of Visitation Panels for the two universities and other tertiary institutions in the state in accordance with relevant laws.
The panels are expected to strengthen accountability, improve administration and enhance the effective management of the institutions.
Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare and strengthening the quality of higher education in Kano State, describing investment in human capital as a key component of the administration’s development agenda.