By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government has reiterated its commitment to the welfare of staff and sustainable development of the education sector, particularly the tertiary institutions.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, gave the assurance during a stakeholders’ meeting with the leadership of State-owned Colleges of Education, including union representatives, held over the weekend at the Ministry’s conference hall in Ilorin.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including Provosts, Registrars, and Bursars of the State Colleges of Education in Ilorin, Oro, Lafiagi, and the College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS).
Also present were the Permanent Secretary for Service Welfare at the Office of the Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Shittu Olufunke Mercy, a delegation from the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), and senior officials of the Ministry of Tertiary Education.
In her remarks, Hajia Modibbo Kawu emphasised that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration remains strongly committed to improving the welfare of staff in tertiary institutions while fostering a peaceful and productive academic environment.
She urged all stakeholders to promote unity and maintain harmonious working relationships within their institutions for enhanced efficiency and development.
“The government is not only focused on infrastructure development but is also deeply concerned about the wellbeing of those who manage and operate these institutions. This administration will continue to support both the management and staff in every possible way,” she stated.
In her contribution, Permanent Secretary for Service Welfare at the Office of the Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Shittu Olufunke Mercy, reiterated that the welfare of civil servants remains a top priority for the current administration. She assured that the Office of the Head of Service would take up the concerns raised by union representatives and ensure that appropriate actions are taken.“The Governor does not take the welfare of workers lightly,” she said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Committee of Provosts, Prof. Mukaila Aremu, commended Governor AbdulRazaq’s substantial investments in the education sector and praised the Commissioner for her proactive approach to institutional issues.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Joint Academic Staff Union of Tertiary Institutions (JASUTI), Comrade Salawu Omotayo, applauded the Governor’s dedication to educational advancement and staff welfare. He described the government’s approach as “people-centered and education-driven.”
Earlier in her welcome address, the Director of Planning, Finance, and Statistics at the Ministry, Mrs. Rasheedat Salman, called for a peaceful and constructive deliberation. She emphasized the importance of dialogue and collaboration in addressing the challenges facing tertiary institutions.
Meanwhile, in a separate effort to strengthen the financial sustainability of the state-owned tertiary institutions, the Commissioner also held a meeting with the Bursars of the Colleges of Education and a team from KWIRS in her office.
The discussion centred on boosting internal revenue generation and ensuring prudent financial management across the institutions.
Hajia Modibbo Kawu emphasized the need for financial discipline and innovative revenue strategies, noting that the government is committed to helping institutions achieve greater financial independence without compromising educational quality.