Lecturers in Delta State-owned tertiary institutions enjoy better pay and improved working conditions than their counterparts in other parts of Nigeria, making strike actions unnecessary, according to the State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukari.
Speaking during a live public affairs programme on a radio station in Asaba, Prof. Tonukari credited the industrial peace in Delta’s tertiary education sector to the proactive governance of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who, he said, has prioritised staff welfare, infrastructural development, and academic programme expansion.
“Lecturers don’t go on strike in Delta State. They are well paid—far better than their counterparts in other states. They can never participate in ASUU strikes—there’s simply no reason to,” Tonukari asserted.
The Commissioner highlighted the state government’s substantial investments in higher education, noting that over 40 new academic programmes have been accredited since Governor Oborevwori took office. These efforts have led to Delta State-owned institutions admitting more than 25,000 students in the past year alone, with over 90,000 students currently enrolled across various campuses.
Tonukari added that the improved academic reputation and discipline within Delta institutions have attracted parents from across Nigeria to seek transfers for their children to the state’s universities and polytechnics.
“We have become the preferred destination for quality tertiary education in Nigeria,” he said.
Prof. Tonukari praised the Oborevwori administration for its commitment to educational infrastructure, citing newly constructed and commissioned facilities at:
- Dennis Osadebey University
- Southern Delta University, Ozoro
- Delta State University, Abraka
The Commissioner revealed that over 600 academic and non-academic staff have been employed across the institutions in the last two years, further boosting morale and administrative efficiency.
Responding to recent controversy surrounding the suspension of Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu, Rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Tonukari described the Governing Council’s action as “ultra vires.”
“Only the Visitor to the institution—the Governor—has the authority to suspend or discipline a Rector,” he clarified.
On the recent renaming of Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro to Southern Delta University, Tonukari explained that the change was necessary to allow the institution broaden its academic offerings and align with National Universities Commission (NUC) requirements. Plans are underway to establish new Faculties of Law, Arts, and Social Sciences at the university’s Orerokpe campus.
The Commissioner also lauded local ingenuity, disclosing that lecturers and students at Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, have developed a fuel-powered light generator prototype with state support—an initiative aimed at addressing energy needs and encouraging homegrown technological advancement.
In conclusion, Prof. Tonukari praised Governor Oborevwori’s visionary leadership:
“Delta remains a front-runner in infrastructure development, transparency, accountability, and economic transformation—not only in Nigeria but in Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
With stable academic calendars, competitive staff welfare, and a rapidly evolving educational landscape, Delta State continues to set the standard for higher education governance in the country.