YOBE State Governor Mai Mala Buni has approved the payment of three key academic allowances for lecturers at Yobe State University (YSU), Damaturu, while also authorising the enrolment of state and local government retirees into the state’s health insurance scheme, in separate measures aimed at strengthening staff welfare and expanding social protection.
Under the approval for university lecturers, academic staff of YSU will begin receiving the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA), Professorial Allowance and Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) from August.
The governor’s Director-General, Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Damaturu.
Mohammed said the approval followed the submission of a report by a Fact-Finding Committee set up by the state government to review the welfare and remuneration package of academic staff at the university.
According to him, the committee visited selected state-owned universities across the country to compare welfare packages and recommend measures for YSU.
The institutions visited included Bauchi State University, Kaduna State University (KASU) and Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State.
He said the decision was in line with the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government/Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN/ASUU) Agreement and was expected to improve staff welfare as well as promote academic excellence.
Mohammed added that the Acting Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Mohammed Goje, received the committee’s report and commended its members for producing recommendations that would support industrial harmony in the university.
In a related development, the state government has also approved the enrolment of state and local government retirees into the Social Equity Programme under the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA).
The Executive Secretary of YSCHMA, Dr Babagana Tijjani, announced the approval in a separate statement issued on Tuesday in Damaturu.
Tijjani said the governor granted the approval following a recommendation by the agency, noting that the initiative is designed to reduce the financial burden of out-of-pocket medical expenses for pensioners while improving their access to comprehensive and quality healthcare services at YSCHMA-accredited facilities.
According to him, the decision reflects the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of retirees and ensuring that senior citizens continue to enjoy quality healthcare after leaving active service.
“This approval is another demonstration of the governor’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of residents of the state.
“By bringing retirees under the Social Equity Programme, the government is ensuring that senior citizens can access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship,” he said.
Tijjani noted that the inclusion of retirees aligns with the administration’s healthcare reform agenda and supports the state’s target of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
He described the approval as a significant step towards expanding healthcare access and strengthening social protection across the state.
The executive secretary also commended the governor for the initiative and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring its effective implementation.
He said YSCHMA would collaborate with pension unions, relevant government institutions and healthcare providers to ensure a transparent enrolment process and seamless access to healthcare services for eligible retirees.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that YSCHMA was established under Yobe State Law No. 7 of 2019 to implement the state’s contributory healthcare scheme and promote equitable, affordable and quality healthcare services for residents.
