North-Eastern University, Gombe, has approved a salary increase of between 40 and 65 per cent for all categories of staff, with immediate effect.

The university, formerly known as Pen Resource University, said the latest adjustment was approved by its Pro-Chancellor and Founder, Dr Sani Jauro (Danlawan of Gombe), as part of efforts to improve staff welfare and sustain academic excellence.

A statement issued by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mukthar Sani Saulawa, said the latest salary review was the third major intervention by the founder in three years.

It said staff salaries were earlier increased by up to 35 per cent in October 2023, while another 20 per cent increase was approved following the university’s performance in the October 2024 National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation exercise.

According to the statement, all programmes presented during the exercise received full accreditation, with an aggregate score of 91.4 per cent.

The latest salary increase comes as the university graduates its pioneer set of students and prepares for its maiden convocation, scheduled for November/December 2026.

The institution has also secured full accreditation from the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) for its Architecture programme.

The university said it was currently the only institution in the North-East with full ARCON accreditation, describing the achievement as evidence of its growing academic and professional standing.

Explaining his continued investment in staff welfare despite the rising cost of running a university, Jauro said his experience as a university lecturer had influenced his approach.

The founder has also approved a 50 per cent scholarship for students admitted into six programmes: Petroleum Chemistry, Environmental Management and Toxicology, Industrial Chemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, and Urban and Regional Planning.

The university said the programmes were selected because of their relevance to the petroleum, energy, industrial and environmental sectors, particularly emerging opportunities around the Kolmani development in Gombe and Bauchi states. (Daily Trust)